Kizer's Trestle is one of the few modern folders in the catalog that skips the lock entirely — and gets away with it. Designed by Azo and sold as two distinct platforms, the Trestle (3761) and the lighter Trestle D (3760), the family now covers 18 listed configurations from a $35.99 Christmas edition up to a $299 M390 timascus showpiece. This guide walks through what both platforms share, where they diverge, and which build makes sense at each price tier.
Why a Slip Joint Still Makes Sense in 2026
A slip joint has no lock. Instead, a spring keeps tension on the blade tang, so the knife stays open while you use it but can be folded with deliberate pressure. That sounds like a step backwards until you actually carry one: the action is simple, there is nothing to fumble with, and the design is the most universally accepted folding format there is.
Kizer builds its own refinements into the pattern. According to Kizer's product copy, the Trestle pauses at an angle past 90 degrees when closing instead of stopping flat at the halfway point, which keeps more space between the blade edge and your fingers during the fold. Small detail, but it is the kind of thing you notice every time you put the knife away.
The trade-off is speed. A slip joint with a nail nick is a two-step open: catch the nick, pull the blade up. If you want single-hand deployment with the same classic look, pair a Trestle with something from our Kizer buying guide that runs a flipper or button.
Trestle vs Trestle D: The Two Platforms Compared
Both platforms share the Azo design language, a 0.10-inch blade stock, a flat grind and a nail nick opener. The differences are in the blade shape, the steel menu and the weight.
| Spec | Trestle (3761) | Trestle D (3760) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 6.61" / 167.8 mm | 6.63" / 168.5 mm |
| Blade length | 2.9" / 73.5 mm | 2.95" / 74.9 mm |
| Blade style | Clip point | Drop point |
| Blade thickness | 0.10" / 2.5 mm | 0.10" / 2.5 mm |
| Grind | Flat | Flat |
| Opener | Nail nick | Nail nick |
| Handle length | 3.71" / 94.3 mm | 3.69" / 93.6 mm |
| Lock type | Slip joint | Slip joint |
| Weight | 70.4 g – 84.2 g | 49.9 g – 51.6 g |
| Steel range | 14C28N, Damascus, S45VN, M390 | Nitro-V, Damascus, S90V |
| Listed prices | $35.99 – $299 | $69.99 – $139.96 |
The headline number is weight. A Trestle D frame lands in the 50-gram range, which is roughly 20 grams lighter than the standard Trestle and about as light as a metal-handled slip joint gets. If pocket presence matters more to you than blade length, the D is the one to look at first.
The Steel Ladder: 14C28N Through S90V
The family spreads across six blade materials, which is unusual for a slip joint line. Hardness figures below come straight from Kizer's spec sheets on each listing.
14C28N (58-59 HRC)
The value steel in the lineup. Sandvik 14C28N is a fine-grained stainless that takes a keen edge easily and touches up fast on a basic stone. It is what you find on the $79.90 Trestle V3761A1 and the Christmas V3761MC1 at $35.99.
Nitro-V (60-61 HRC)
Nitro-V is the Trestle D's standard steel. It is a nitrogen-enhanced stainless that trades a little corrosion resistance for better edge stability and toughness at higher hardness than 14C28N. We compare the two directly in our 14C28N vs Nitro-V breakdown.
Damascus (60-62 HRC)
Both platforms offer Damascus — a standard acid-washed pattern on the Trestle A2 and a rainbow-acid-washed pattern on the Trestle A3 and the Trestle D A3. Expect a showier blade with the usual caveat that pattern-welded steels are chosen for looks first.
S45VN (60-61 HRC)
CPM S45VN is Crucible's update to S35VN with more chromium and a nitrogen addition, aimed at better corrosion resistance at the same wear resistance. Larrin Thomas's S45VN steel breakdown is the reference here. In the Trestle line it shows up on the A1, A3 and A5 builds.
M390 (59-60 HRC)
Bohler M390 is the high-wear stainless tier: excellent edge retention, good corrosion resistance, and a reputation for being harder to sharpen than 14C28N. It appears on the Trestle A2 (Camo 80s) and the flagship A6 timascus build.
S90V (60-61 HRC)
The Trestle D's premium option. CPM S90V is a vanadium-rich stainless with very high wear resistance — Thomas's S90V and S125V article describes it as a steel with an unusually strong balance of edge retention and toughness for its class. The Trestle D Ki3760A1 puts it behind a DLC-Ultra coating at $139.96.
Handle Materials Across the Family
The Trestle line is where Kizer plays with handle materials. Between the two platforms you can pick from titanium and carbon fiber, titanium and Camo 80s, titanium and mother of pearl, titanium and timascus, titanium and micarta, titanium and Mkuruti wood, aluminum and G10, aluminum and fat carbon, aluminum and crystallized titanium, aluminum and leopardwood, and Norplex UltreX micarta. We cover the practical differences in our knife handle materials guide — short version: titanium sets the weight floor, aluminum keeps the frame light while adding color options, and micarta and wood are the choice if you want grip texture rather than a machined look.
Every Kizer Trestle Configuration, Spec by Spec
| Model # | Steel | Handle | Finish | HRC | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V3761MC1 (Christmas LE) | 14C28N | Aluminum & G10 | — | — | 57.3 g | $35.99 |
| V3761A1 | 14C28N | Titanium & Micarta | Satin | 58-59 | 70.4 g | $79.90 |
| V3761A2 | Damascus | Titanium & Mkuruti Wood | Acid-washed | 60-62 | 71.3 g | $89.90 |
| V3761A3 | Rainbow Damascus | Titanium & Mkuruti Wood | Acid-washed | 60-62 | 70.6 g | $58.44 |
| V3761MC1 (Christmas LE) | S45VN | Aluminum & Mkuruti Wood | — | — | 56.7 g | $107.99 |
| Ki3761A4 (Limited) | Damascus | Aluminum & Crystallized Titanium | — | — | 72.2 g | $149.92 |
| Ki3761A1 | S45VN | Titanium & Carbon Fiber | DLC-Ultra | 60-61 | 70.6 g | $169 |
| Ki3761A2 | M390 | Titanium & Camo 80s | Hand-brushed | 59-60 | 70.8 g | $189 |
| Ki3761A3 | S45VN | Titanium & Mother of Pearl | Hand-brushed | 60-61 | 77.2 g | $289 |
| Ki3761A5 (Limited) | S45VN | Titanium & Timascus | Hand-brushed | 60-61 | 84.2 g | $289 |
| Ki3761A6 (Limited) | M390 | Titanium & Timascus | Hand-brushed | 59-60 | 82.2 g | $299 |
| V3760A1 | Nitro-V | Aluminum & Norplex UltreX Micarta | Satin | 60-61 | 51.6 g | $69.99 |
| V3760A2 | Nitro-V | Micarta (Vortex pattern) | Satin | 60-61 | 50.6 g | $69.99 |
| V3760A3 | Damascus | Aluminum & Leopardwood | Acid-washed | 60-62 | 49.9 g | $79.94 |
| Ki3760A1 | S90V | Aluminum & Fat Carbon | Matt DLC Ultra | 60-61 | 51.6 g | $139.96 |
| 3760A4 / A5 / A6 (Pac-Bar) | Rainbow Damascus | Aluminum & Fat Carbon | — | — | ~51 g | $99.99 each |
Prices are the current listings on edcdeal.com and will move with stock and sales, so treat them as a snapshot rather than a promise.
What the Trestle D Changes
The Trestle D is the lighter, rounder take on the same idea. You give up the clip-point profile for a drop point, gain a fraction of blade length (2.95 inches versus 2.9), and drop roughly 20 grams off the frame. Three builds add a "Pac-Bar" suffix — 3760A4, 3760A5 and 3760A6 — all sharing a rainbow Damascus blade and an aluminum and fat-carbon frame at $99.99. Kizer does not publish a separate spec block for the Pac-Bar itself, so the simplest way to read those listings is as the collector variants of the Trestle D rather than a different knife.
The D's other draw is the steel menu: Nitro-V at the entry level, Damascus in the middle, and S90V with a DLC-Ultra coating at the top. That S90V build weighs the same 51.6 grams as the $69.99 Nitro-V version, which makes it one of the more interesting weight-to-steel ratios in the catalog.
Who Each Build Is For
If you want the cheapest way into a modern slip joint: the Christmas Trestle 3761MC1 in 14C28N and aluminum-backed G10 is $35.99 and weighs 57.3 grams.
If you carry every day and want the classic titanium-and-micarta look: the Trestle V3761A1 at $79.90 with 14C28N gets you the full 2.9-inch clip point in a 70-gram frame, and the same knife in acid-washed Damascus is $89.90.
If light weight is the priority: any Trestle D. The Nitro-V V3760A2 with its vortex-pattern micarta is $69.99 and weighs 50.6 grams; the Damascus V3760A3 drops to 49.9 grams for $79.94.
If you want the best steel for the money: the Trestle D Ki3760A1 in S90V with a DLC-Ultra blade is $139.96. Nothing else in the family pairs S90V with a sub-52-gram frame.
If it is a collection piece: the M390 timascus Ki3761A6 at $299, the S45VN timascus Ki3761A5 at $289, and the titanium/mother-of-pearl Ki3761A3 at $289 are the top three. For something more affordable but still limited, the crystallized-titanium A4 at $149.92 sits in its own lane.
Living With a Non-Locking Folder
Two habits make a slip joint pleasant rather than annoying. First, close it with two hands and let the tang pass the past-90-degree point before you commit your fingers — that pause is the whole safety story. Second, keep the edge touched up: nothing about a slip joint compensates for a dull blade, and a few strokes on a fine stone or strop keeps a 14C28N or Nitro-V Trestle cutting cleanly.
Non-locking folders are also the format with the fewest legal headaches in most places, but "most places" is doing a lot of work in that sentence — check your local rules rather than assuming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kizer Trestle a locking knife?
No. Both the Trestle and the Trestle D are slip joints: the blade is held open by spring tension rather than a lock bar, and closing it is a deliberate two-hand action.
What is the difference between the Kizer Trestle and the Trestle D?
The Trestle is the 2.9-inch clip point version in a 70-84 gram frame with 14C28N, Damascus, S45VN or M390 steel. The Trestle D is a 2.95-inch drop point in a 50-52 gram frame with Nitro-V, Damascus or S90V.
What steel does the Kizer Trestle use?
Six materials appear across the family: 14C28N at 58-59 HRC, Nitro-V at 60-61 HRC, Damascus at 60-62 HRC, CPM S45VN at 60-61 HRC, Bohler M390 at 59-60 HRC, and CPM S90V at 60-61 HRC.
How much does a Kizer Trestle cost?
Listings run from $35.99 for the Christmas 14C28N version to $299 for the M390 timascus limited edition. Most everyday builds sit between $69.99 and $89.90.
Is the Trestle a good everyday carry knife?
If you want a slim, non-locking folder with a sub-3-inch blade and a low carry weight, yes — especially the Trestle D, which comes in just over 50 grams. If you need one-hand, one-motion deployment all day, a flipper or button-lock Kizer from our Begleiter family guide will suit you better.