Artisan Cutlery Tomahawk Guide: D2 G10, M390 Titanium & Damascus Variants Compared

One model name. Nine variants. Three completely different price worlds. The Artisan Cutlery Tomahawk (ATZ-1815 series) is unusual because the same design language spans budget D2 folders at $44.99 all the way up to M390 and Damascus titanium knives above $200. That makes it a genuinely useful family to understand before you buy — the "Tomahawk" you see on someone's desk and the one in a collector's case may share a name and nothing else.

Artisan's own catalog copy describes the Tomahawk blade as "a bit cleaver and a bit clip point — providing plenty of bellies and a sharp piercing tip." It is a bold, dramatic profile that carries the family identity across every tier. This guide breaks down each variant with the specs and prices from our catalog, so you can match the right Tomahawk to your budget and your carry.

The Tomahawk Family at a Glance

The family runs on three blade-size platforms — 3.94" full size, 3.14" mid size, and 2.36" compact — each available in different steel and handle combos:

All nine share ceramic ball bearing pivots. From there, the family splits into three tiers.

The Budget Tier: D2 G10 and Carbon Fiber Tomahawks ($44.99–$59.24)

The D2 versions are the gateway to the family. They come in two sizes: the full-size ATZ-1815P with a 3.94" blade, and the compact ATZ-1815PS with a 2.36" blade.

Both use D2, the high-carbon tool steel known for strong edge retention at a budget price — read the full D2 breakdown from Knife Steel Nerds for the metallurgy. On the Tomahawk it is hardened to HRC 59-61, stonewashed, and ground with a tanto profile. D2 is not stainless — it tolerates light surface patina and prefers occasional oiling — but for an every-day cutting tool under $60 it is a proven, hard-wearing choice. Our best D2 budget EDC knives guide covers the wider D2 landscape.

The full-size P versions are substantial: 8.98" overall and 5.11 oz, with a G10 handle in flat or curved contour. The compact PS versions drop to 7.16" overall and a genuinely light 2.64 oz, in G10 (flat or curve) or carbon fiber — the carbon fiber version is the lightest-feeling Tomahawk in the family at $57.83.

At this tier the Tomahawk competes with the rest of Artisan's budget line — our best Artisan Cutlery knives under $70 roundup shows what else the brand offers at this price.

The Premium Tier: M390 Titanium Tomahawks ($205.70–$224.99)

The premium Tomahawks swap D2 for M390, the powder-metallurgy stainless that dominates flagship production knives (see Knife Steel Nerds on M390). Hardened to HRC 60-62, flat-ground, and satin-finished, these are the knives that show what the design can do with premium materials.

The handle is full titanium — no inserts, no overlays — with a matching titanium clip. The lock is a frame lock. The full-size ATZ-1815G ($224.99) carries the 3.94" drop point at 8.98" overall and 5.11 oz; the mid-size ATZ-1815GS ($205.70) trims it to a 3.14" blade at 7.16" overall, which is the easier pocket carry of the two.

If you like this tier but want more edge-retention-focused steel, Artisan builds the same construction style around S90V in models like the Fragarach — see our Artisan S90V titanium guide for the full lineup.

The Collector Tier: Damascus Titanium Tomahawks ($164.98–$187.49)

Between the budget and premium tiers sits the damascus pair. The ATZ-1815GSD (3.14", $164.98) and ATZ-1815GD (3.94", $187.49) pair a layered damascus blade with a titanium frame-lock handle, satin-finished at HRC 60-62.

Damascus is about looks as much as performance — each blade carries a unique layered pattern, which makes these the Tomahawks people buy to look at as much as to use. The pricing is notable: the damascus versions undercut the M390 versions by roughly $35-40, which makes them the value entry into the titanium tier. For more on the material, our Artisan Damascus guide covers the brand's other damascus models.

What Stays the Same Across the Family

Despite the price spread, every Tomahawk shares the same core design:

• Ceramic ball bearing pivots on all nine variants — the opening action is the family trait, and it holds up at every price point
• The bold, cleaver-inspired blade profile Artisan describes as "a bit cleaver and a bit clip point"
• Stonewash or satin finishes tuned to each steel's personality (D2 gets stonewash; M390 and damascus get satin)
• Steel-framed construction — liner lock on the D2 knives, frame lock on the titanium knives

The blade thickness is consistent too: 0.15-0.16" across the D2 and M390 variants, which is a stout, work-ready grind rather than a slicer's thin edge.

The Design Lineage

The Tomahawk sits in a design family with the Cobra and the Corsair. Artisan's own catalog copy for the Corsair describes it as a cross between the Cobra — which carries a removable lanyard loop — and the Tomahawk, "with its cleaver-style blade." The Corsair then takes that blade "a bit cleaver and a bit clip point — providing plenty of bellies and a sharp piercing tip." So the Tomahawk's dramatic profile is not an accident; it is the family's signature, carried into everything Artisan builds around it. If you like the blade but want a different handle or price tier, the Corsair (S35VN, titanium and carbon fiber) is the closest relative in the catalog.

Carry and Weight by Size

The three platforms have genuinely different carry profiles:

• Full size (3.94" blade, 8.98" overall) — 5.11 oz / 145 g. This is a belt-and-briefcase knife: substantial in hand, with a blade long enough for real work. The D2 versions weigh the same as the M390 versions — the weight is in the steel frame and the 3.94" blade, not the handle material.
• Mid size (3.14" blade, 7.16" overall) — the compact overall length without going tiny. Artisan's spec sheet does not list a weight for these two variants, but the shorter blade and titanium handle put them noticeably lighter than the full-size knives in hand.
• Compact (2.36" blade, 7.16" overall) — 2.64 oz / 75 g. Nearly half the weight of the full size. Closed length is 4.80", which makes it the easy pocket carry of the family — and with a 2.36" blade, the most carry-friendly in blade-length-restricted areas.

If pocket carry is your deciding factor, the compact D2 versions give you 90% of the Tomahawk look at under 3 oz. If you want the flagship feel, the full-size titanium versions are the ones that show the design at its best.

Sharpening and Upkeep by Tier

The three tiers need different care, and it tracks the steel:

• D2 (HRC 59-61) — easy to sharpen on conventional stones. D2 is not stainless; the stonewashed finish hides early patina well, but if you live in a humid climate or carry hard, a light oil wipe keeps the edge area clean.
• M390 (HRC 60-62) — hard enough that diamond or CBN abrasives speed things up considerably. M390 is stainless, so corrosion is rarely a concern.
• Damascus (HRC 60-62) — the layered steel is the one to baby: like most high-carbon damascus, it can develop patina, and the satin finish shows it. Keep it dry and oiled, and it stays a looker.

If you are new to sharpening, our beginner sharpening guide and the sharpening angle guide cover the basics, and the cleaning and lubrication guide walks through pivot and lock maintenance that applies to every Tomahawk.

Frame Lock vs Liner Lock in One Family

The Tomahawk is a useful case study in lock choice: the D2 knives use liner locks, the titanium knives use frame locks. That is standard practice — a frame lock needs a metal handle to form the lock bar, so it shows up exactly where the handle is titanium.

Functionally, both are proven designs; the frame lock tends to feel more rigid because the lock bar is part of the larger handle scale, while the liner lock is thinner and lighter. Our frame lock vs liner lock deep-dive covers the full trade-off if you want the detail.

Which Tomahawk Should You Buy?

• Under $50 — the compact D2 G10 flat (ATZ-1815PS, $44.99): the cheapest entry into the family, light enough to disappear in a pocket.
• $50-60, want a real blade — the full-size D2 G10 versions (ATZ-1815P, $52.49-59.24): 3.94" of tanto on an 8.98" frame for about the price of a fast-food run.
• Light carry on a budget — the compact carbon fiber D2 (ATZ-1815PS, $57.83): 2.64 oz is the lightest the family gets.
• Titanium without the M390 premium — the damascus versions (ATZ-1815GSD $164.98 / ATZ-1815GD $187.49).
• The full flagship — the M390 titanium versions (ATZ-1815GS $205.70 / ATZ-1815G $224.99).

If you are shopping the whole Artisan brand rather than just this model, start with our Artisan price-tier buying guide, which maps every model to its budget bracket.

FAQ

What is the Artisan Cutlery Tomahawk? It is the ATZ-1815 folding knife family from Artisan Cutlery, spanning nine variants across three tiers: D2 G10 from $44.99, M390 titanium from $205.70, and Damascus titanium from $164.98.

Is the Tomahawk a good budget knife? The D2 G10 versions are strong budget picks: a 3.94" D2 tanto with ceramic ball bearings from $52.49, or a compact 2.36" version from $44.99.

What is the difference between the M390 and D2 Tomahawks? The M390 versions (HRC 60-62) use titanium handles and frame locks and cost $205.70-224.99; the D2 versions (HRC 59-61) use G10 or carbon fiber handles and liner locks and cost $44.99-59.24.

Does the Tomahawk use bearings? Yes — every variant in the family uses ceramic ball bearing pivots.

Is the Tomahawk legal to carry? Carry laws vary by state and are usually tied to blade length. The family includes 2.36", 3.14", and 3.94" blade lengths, so check your local regulations before carrying any of them.