Why the Orthodox still stands out
Artisan Cutlery launched the original Orthodox in 2019 and describes it as a slim folding knife shaped to echo the classic straight razor — a long, near-straight cutting edge with a clipped tip instead of a pronounced belly. Six years on, the profile has outlasted most of the folders it launched alongside, and the catalog now carries 17 Orthodox configurations in two sizes and two generations. Artisan’s own Orthodox collection on its storefront lists 16 of those configurations; the seventeenth is a V2 prototype record.
Those 17 configurations span roughly $45 to $237. That spread is the whole reason this guide exists: with the Orthodox, the real differences between one variant and the next live in three places — blade steel, handle material, and, on the V2, the grind itself. Everything else is shared hardware.
Size first: ATZ-1817PS versus ATZ-1817P
Buy the size before you buy the steel. Artisan builds the Orthodox on two frames, and the model codes tell you which one you are looking at.
| Model code | Blade length | Overall length | Closed length | Weight | Handle frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATZ-1817PS ("subsize") | 2.95" (75 mm) | 7.0" (178 mm) | 4.05" (103 mm) | 2.47 oz / 70 g | G10 or carbon fiber |
| ATZ-1817P | 3.54" (90 mm) | 8.66" (220 mm) | 5.11" (130 mm) | 4.23 oz / 120 g | G10 or carbon fiber |
The subsize knives are close to 2.5 ounces, which puts them in the same weight class as a compact fifth-pocket folder — a genuinely light knife for a 2.95" blade. The full-size version is a different animal at 120 g, and noticeably taller in the pocket.
Both frames use a liner lock, both run ceramic ball bearings at the pivot, and both are built as front-flipper knives with a reversible steel pocket clip and a lanyard hole. Artisan's spec sheets list the blade style as "Tanto" on these records, but the silhouette that comes out of the box is the razor profile the model is known for — a shape that turns up in pocket knives far less often than a drop point. That naming quirk has confused buyers for years; the drawing matters more than the label.
What changed on the Orthodox V2
The 2025 V2 is a real revision, not a color refresh. In Artisan's words, the update "thinned out the blade stock and changed the full flat grind of the original version to a true hollow grind," and the stock dropped from 3.8 mm (0.15") on the full-size original to 2.7 mm (0.11") on the V2 prototype record. A hollow grind on thin stock is a slicing geometry: it takes a keener edge angle and moves through material with less resistance, at the cost of some strength behind the edge compared with a flat grind.
The other V2 changes are ergonomic. Artisan redesigned the flipper tab for more reliable action while keeping it low-profile, and widened the sharpening choil so you can choke up closer to the edge. The V2 also runs a longer body: the 3.54" V2 measures 8.07" overall, against 8.66" for the original full-size 1817P, because of a shorter closed length of 4.53" versus 5.11".
If slicing performance is the priority, the V2 geometry is the reason to buy it. If you want the longest body and the thicker blade stock, the original 1817 is still in the catalog.
The steel ladder, from $44.99 to $236.99
D2 and D2/AR-RPM9 — $44.99 to $64.49
This is where most Orthodox sales happen. ATZ-1817PS D2/AR-RPM9 in flat G10 is the entry point at $44.99, with the same knife in a curved G10 handle at $53.99 (/products/artisan-cutlery-orthodox-atz-1817ps-d2-blade-g10curve-handle-folding-knives) and the full-size 3.54" version at $52.49 (/products/artisan-cutlery-orthodox-atz-1817p-d2-blade-g10flat-handle-folding-knives).
D2 is a semi-stainless tool steel — high wear resistance, HRC 59-61 on these blades, and a reputation for holding a working edge through cardboard and zip ties for a long time. It is also the grade that will spot if you leave it in a damp sheath. AR-RPM9 is Artisan's own powder-metallurgy stainless, and because it is a stainless, it shrugs off moisture in a way D2 does not — worth the extra consideration if your carry lives in a humid pocket. Our guide to AR-RPM9 knives covers where that steel sits in the wider picture.
Carbon fiber handles — $59.24 to $64.49
Swap the G10 for carbon fiber and the price steps up modestly: the subsize ATZ-1817PS with a CF handle runs $59.24, and the full-size ATZ-1817P in carbon fiber is $64.49. Carbon fiber is stiff and stays dimensionally stable, and the weight is unchanged at 70 g and 120 g respectively — this is a looks-and-texture upgrade, not a diet.
The V2 in G10 — $44.99
The Orthodox V2 1883P in AR-RPM9 with G10 handles costs the same $44.99 as the original entry knife, and the black-and-green V2 variant sits at that price too. You are choosing between two grinds and two blade lengths at the same money — a flat grind on thicker stock, or the new hollow grind on thinner stock.
Artisan also lists a V2 1883P prototype record at $59.99 with the same 3.54" AR-RPM9 blade, 8.07" overall length and 76.8 g weight, and a handle listed as G10/Micarta/Aluminum. Treat it as a reference for the final V2 dimensions.
CPM S45VN in bovine bone — $149.99 (limited)
The Orthodox V2 bovine bone limited is the odd one out in the lineup: a 3.54" sand-polished CPM S45VN blade on a natural bone handle, at $149.99. S45VN is the steel Crucible positions as an evolution of S35VN with more edge retention at a similar toughness level, and it is the only Orthodox in the family below the titanium tier that uses a premium stainless. Bone changes the character of the knife completely — warmer in the hand, lighter than a metal frame, and unique per unit because of the grain.
CPM S35VN in titanium — $171.74 to $208.76
Past $170 the Orthodox turns into a frame-lock knife with a titanium handle. The subsize ATZ-1817GS in S35VN is $171.74 and the full-size ATZ-1817G in S35VN is $208.76. Blade hardness rises to HRC 60-62 across the titanium tier, the blade stock is slightly thinner than the G10 originals (3.2 mm subsize, 3.8 mm full size), and the pocket clip is titanium rather than steel.
Damascus in titanium — $171.74 to $199.49
Artisan sells two Damascus Titanium Orthodox knives: a 2.95" ATZ-1817GSD at $171.74 and a 3.54" ATZ-1817GD at $199.49. Both are satin-finished, HRC 60-62, and weigh the same as their stainless equivalents — 70 g and 115 g. Steel-pattern Damascus is a visual material first and a working edge second; if you want the pattern to stay crisp, keep abrasive polishes away from it. Our Damascus care notes go into that in more detail.
M390 in titanium — $214.49 to $236.99
The top of the family is M390: the 2.95" ATZ-1817GS M390 at $214.49 and the 3.54" ATZ-1817G M390 at $236.99. M390 is a high-vanadium powder stainless with excellent wear resistance and strong corrosion resistance, and it is the last word in edge holding within this family.
Handle materials, side by side
| Handle | Weight (subsize / full) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| G10 (flat or curved) | 70 g / 120 g | Maximum grip for the money, resistant to moisture and chemicals |
| Carbon fiber | 70 g / 120 g | Stiffer and more uniform than G10, premium look, same weight |
| Titanium | 70 g / 115 g | Frame lock, metal body, titanium clip, the premium tier |
| Bovine bone | — / limited | Natural material, warm texture, one-off grain pattern |
G10 and carbon fiber Orthodox knives are all liner lock. Titanium Orthodox knives are frame lock, which integrates the lock bar into the handle slab itself — that is the structural change you are paying for past $170, along with the clip material. Our wider comparison of handle materials puts G10, titanium and carbon fiber in context alongside micarta and Ultem.
Which Orthodox should you buy?
- Best value: ATZ-1817PS D2/AR-RPM9 in flat G10 at $44.99 — the razor profile, ceramic bearings and reversible clip at the lowest price in the family.
- Best all-rounder: ATZ-1817P in D2 with flat G10 at $52.49 — the same knife with a third of an inch more blade.
- Best slicer: any V2 1883P at $44.99 — thinner stock and a true hollow grind.
- Best budget stainless: ATZ-1817PS in D2/AR-RPM9 with curved G10 at $53.99, or the carbon fiber version at $59.24 if you want the material upgrade.
- Best premium stainless: ATZ-1817GS S35VN titanium at $171.74 if you want the smaller size; the full-size S35VN at $208.76 if you want reach.
- Best edge retention: ATZ-1817G M390 at $236.99.
- Best collector piece: the S45VN bovine bone V2 at $149.99 — the only natural-handle Orthodox, and a limited run.
If you are deciding between the Orthodox and the rest of Artisan's catalog, the Orthodox's closest siblings use button locks instead of liner or frame locks, and the Beest family and Sirius family both sit in the same price windows with different blade geometry. For a straight spend-it-well pick under $70, our Artisan budget roundup covers the D2 tier across the brand, and the Tomahawk family guide shows how Artisan structures a steel ladder the same way on a different design.
FAQ
Is the Orthodox a flipper or a thumb-stud knife? Every Orthodox configuration in the current catalog is a flipper, with no thumb stud. The V2 revised the flipper tab geometry for more consistent action while keeping the tab low-profile.
What is the difference between the ATZ-1817PS and the ATZ-1817P? The PS is the subsize frame: a 2.95" blade, 7.0" overall, 70 g. The P is the full-size frame: a 3.54" blade, 8.66" overall, 120 g. Handle material choices run across both frames.
Is the Orthodox V2 better than the original? They are different tools. The V2 uses thinner blade stock and a true hollow grind, which cuts more efficiently; the original full-size knives use thicker stock and a flat grind, with a longer body. Pick the V2 for slicing and the original for a heavier blade.
Does the Orthodox use a frame lock or a liner lock? The G10, carbon fiber and bone versions are liner lock. The titanium-handle versions at $171.74 and above are frame lock with a titanium clip.
How much does the Orthodox weigh? Subsize configurations are 2.47 oz / 70 g. Full-size configurations are 4.05–4.23 oz / 115–120 g, depending on steel and handle material. The V2 3.54" prototype record is listed at 76.8 g.
The bottom line
The Orthodox is one of the few folders where you can trace a single silhouette from a $45 G10 knife to a $237 M390 frame lock without leaving the family. Choose the size first — 2.95" or 3.54" — then decide whether your priority is the V2's hollow grind, a stainless upgrade in the D2/AR-RPM9 tier, or the material jump into titanium. Prices and specifications here match Artisan Cutlery's own storefront listings at the time of writing; confirm current availability before ordering.