Artisan Cutlery Andromeda Family Guide: Ray Laconico's Button Lock From $56 to $250

Artisan Cutlery Andromeda: Ray Laconico's Inset Button Lock

The Andromeda is Artisan Cutlery's collaboration with designer Ray Laconico, the same hand behind the Artisan Sirius and a string of clean, organic folders across the industry. What sets the Andromeda apart in Artisan's catalog is the mechanism: it is one of the brand's first models built around an inset button lock, paired with dual thumb studs and a slim, dress-friendly profile.

The family runs from a $55.99 AR-RPM9 budget build to limited-edition M390 models with titanium and fat carbon handles near $250. Every variant shares the same 3.42-inch blade platform, the same flat grind, and the same ceramic ball bearing pivot — so the Andromeda is really one design scaled across three steel tiers and four handle materials.

Design DNA: Organic Lines, Modern Lock

Laconico's signature is flowing, organic handle lines that look simple but are hard to execute well. The Andromeda takes that language and adds a mechanical twist: the button lock sits inset into the handle scale rather than protruding, which keeps the silhouette clean and the pocket profile smooth. You open it two ways — press the button and flick the blade out, or roll the dual-sided thumb studs. Closing is just as quick: press the button and the blade drops with a light wrist flick.

The blade is a flat-ground drop point machined from 0.106-inch stock (the FCMV limited edition runs a keener spear-point profile instead), with an overall length of 7.9 inches and a 4.49-inch closed length. Weight lands around 3.35 oz on the titanium builds. It is a slim knife with the soul of a gentleman's folder — understated enough for an office, modern enough to feel current.

The Andromeda Lineup at a Glance

1856P AR-RPM9 G10: The Budget Entry Point ($55.99)

Artisan's powder-metallurgy AR-RPM9 steel is a familiar sight across the brand's value line — it shows up in the CJRB and Artisan budget families and holds an edge well above what the price suggests. This version pairs it with a stonewash and black PVD-coated blade finish and a G10 handle, keeping the full button lock experience at $55.99.

What you keep versus the pricier builds: the 3.42-inch blade, the inset button lock, dual thumb studs, ceramic ball bearing pivot, and the same slim geometry. What you trade is the handle material — G10 instead of Micarta or titanium — and the steel ceiling. For anyone who wants to try a Laconico button-lock folder without committing to a premium steel price, this is the rational pick.

1856P S35VN Micarta: The Mid-Range Sweet Spot ($128.55)

Step up to the Micarta version and the Andromeda gains S35VN — the stainless that dominates the mid-to-premium tier because it balances edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance better than almost anything near its price. The Micarta handle warms up in the hand, develops character over time, and weighs less than metal scales while keeping a solid feel.

At $128.55 this is the version most buyers should start with. S35VN at Artisan's heat treat handles real daily use comfortably, and Micarta gives the Laconico design a softer, more traditional character than bare titanium.

1856G S35VN Titanium: The All-Metal Build ($186.66)

The titanium version replaces the Micarta scales with machined titanium, pushing the Andromeda firmly into premium EDC territory. The metal handle picks up the organic milling of Laconico's design better than any other material — titanium is what these flowing lines were drawn for — and the weight stays reasonable for a 3.42-inch folder.

This is also the version that most clearly shows off the inset button lock, since the machined titanium scale frames the button and the pivot hardware cleanly. If the M390 limited editions are out of reach or sold out, this S35VN titanium build captures most of the experience at $186.66.

The M390 Limited Editions: Titanium and Fat Carbon ($233.33 / $249.99)

The top of the Andromeda family is a pair of limited-edition runs that combine Bohler M390 at HRC 60-62 with a titanium handle and a woven fat carbon inlay. The 1856G-FCG ($233.33) uses a stonewashed M390 blade and gray titanium, while the 1856G-FCMV ($249.99) swaps in a black PVD-coated spear-point blade and black titanium for the most dramatic look in the family.

These are the collector builds. M390 is one of the highest-performing stainless steels available, with outstanding edge retention that keeps the blade working for weeks of normal carry between touch-ups. Fat carbon adds visual depth to the handle, and the titanium keeps everything at 3.35 oz. Because they are limited runs, availability comes and goes — if you see one in stock at the price above, that is the time to decide.

How the Andromeda Compares With Artisan's Other Laconico Models

Artisan's Ray Laconico designs split neatly by mechanism. The Sirius family is the front-flipper line, spanning AR-RPM9, S35VN, and CPM 20CV across G10, Micarta, fat carbon, and titanium. The Andromeda is the button-lock counterpart: same designer, same organic philosophy, different deployment. Where the Sirius announces itself with a flipper tab, the Andromeda stays quiet — thumb studs and a flush button, no tab breaking the silhouette.

For a broader look at where the Andromeda fits in the catalog, the ArtisanCutlery price-tier guide maps the whole brand from budget to premium, and the Beest family guide covers Artisan's other big design family.

Who Should Carry the Andromeda?

Three groups will get the most out of this knife. Office and desk workers, because the slim profile and non-tactical looks read as a tool rather than a statement — see our office-friendly EDC knife guide for context on why blade shape and handle width matter in that setting. Button-lock fans who want an alternative to the ubiquitous crossbar lock, since the inset button gives the same one-hand close with a different feel under the thumb. And Laconico collectors who already own the front-flipper Sirius and want to see how the same design language translates to a button-lock platform.

If you are newer to EDC and want the mechanism without the premium steel price, start with the AR-RPM9 G10 build at $55.99. If you want the definitive everyday version, the S35VN Micarta at $128.55 is the best value-to-experience ratio in the family. If you want the showpiece, chase one of the M390 limited editions while they are around.

Button Lock Maintenance Notes

The inset button lock is low-maintenance, but two habits keep it crisp. First, keep the button channel clean — pocket lint collects in the recess and can make the button feel mushy over time; a quick flush with compressed air or a drop of light solvent fixes it. Second, oil the pivot rather than the lock surfaces themselves, since excess lubricant on the button can attract grit. For a full walkthrough of cleaning and lubing a folder, our complete maintenance guide covers the steps in detail.

Final Verdict

The Artisan Cutlery Andromeda is one of the most approachable premium button locks around because Artisan sells the same Laconico design at five price points instead of forcing one expensive build. The $55.99 AR-RPM9 version makes the mechanism accessible, the $128.55 S35VN Micarta version is the daily-carry sweet spot, and the M390 titanium limited editions are genuine collector pieces. If you want a slim, elegant button-lock folder with real designer pedigree, the Andromeda family has a version for your budget.

For manufacturer details, Artisan Cutlery's product pages for the M390 limited edition and the general Andromeda family knowledge base list the full spec sheets, and Wikipedia's pocketknife entry is a useful primer on folding-knife lock types generally.

Handle Material Walkthrough: G10, Micarta, Titanium, Fat Carbon

Because every Andromeda shares the same blade and lock, the handle material is the real decision point — and the family conveniently spans the four most common EDC handle materials, which our handle materials guide breaks down in full. Here is how each one behaves on the Andromeda specifically.

G10, on the $55.99 build, is the most utilitarian: fiberglass laminate that is stiff, grippy, and immune to most solvents. It suits a working knife that will see rough use. Micarta, at $128.55, is resin-soaked linen or canvas — it grips well when wet, feels warmer than G10, and picks up a subtle patina as it wears. It is the material most often chosen for everyday folders that live in a pocket rather than a toolbox.

Titanium, on the $186.66 build and the limited editions, is the premium choice: lightweight, corrosion-proof, and it takes the machining that gives Laconico's lines their crispness. The Andromeda's titanium scales are slim enough that the knife stays comfortable in a jeans pocket, and titanium's natural silver-gray finish pairs well with the satin and PVD-coated blades in the family. Fat carbon, on the M390 limited editions, is layered carbon fiber with a distinctive dimensional weave that shifts as light moves across it — purely aesthetic, but it makes each limited run visually distinct.

How It Fits a Button-Lock Collection

The button lock has become the defining modern folder mechanism — one-handed open, one-handed close, no wrist flick required. If you are building a button-lock collection across brands, the Andromeda's inset design is worth comparing side by side with the more common crossbar-style and button releases from Kizer, CIVIVI, and Vosteed. Our axis vs button vs crossbar comparison lays out the mechanical differences, and the button lock explainer covers how the mechanism works in detail.

What the Andromeda adds to that conversation is restraint. Many button-lock knives lean on the mechanism as a design feature — big exposed button, tactical styling. The Andromeda hides the button flush inside a Laconico silhouette, which makes it one of the few premium button locks that does not look like a button lock at a glance. For collectors who want the mechanism's convenience without the visual language, that is the whole point of the design.

Resale and Limited-Edition Notes

Limited-edition Artisan runs like the FCG and FCMV M390 models tend to sell through in batches rather than staying continuously in stock. If the $249.99 FCMV is out of stock when you check, the $233.33 FCG is the same blade and lock with a different fat carbon treatment — and both rotate back in periodically. The standard-production AR-RPM9, S35VN Micarta, and S35VN titanium versions are the dependable backbone of the family and are generally the easier ones to find at their catalog prices.

One practical note on the M390 steel: it is a high-alloy stainless that rewards a proper edge angle and a strop more than budget steels do. It holds an edge for a long time, but when it does dull, it takes a little more effort to bring back. That is a fair trade for the edge retention M390 is famous for — and for most owners, a light touch-up every few weeks keeps the factory edge working.