The Kizer Varatas is one of those designs that quietly gets everything right. It was drawn by Jacob Lundquist, and rather than chasing a single flagship build, Kizer stretched the same silhouette across two completely different price tiers: a $34.50 to $39.99 liner-lock family in G10, carbon fiber and PEI, and a $169 to $175 titanium frame lock with a handle milled 17.5% thinner than a typical frame-lock knife. Same 3.2-inch drop point, same front-flipper-plus-thumb-hole opening, very different objects in the pocket.
This guide covers every Varatas variant currently listed, what changes between them, and which one actually fits how you carry.
What the Kizer Varatas Actually Is
The Varatas is a mid-size EDC folder built around a 3.24 to 3.27 inch drop-point blade (82.4 to 83 mm), roughly 7.7 inches overall, with a 4.41 inch handle. Two opening methods come standard across the family: a front flipper and a thumb hole. Weight ranges from 2.73 oz on the lightest G10 build to 4.49 oz on the PEI version.
Three things define the design:
- A thin handle. On the titanium versions Kizer reduced handle thickness by 17.5% while keeping the frame rigid.
- A hidden reversible clip. On the titanium models, a titanium clip fills the mounting hole on the opposite side, so you never see an empty screw recess. Loosen one screw, move the clip, done.
- An intentional sound. Because the titanium handle and frame lock form a hollow cavity, the knife has a distinct acoustic ring when it opens - Kizer leans into this on purpose, calling it an "echo cavity."
Every variant also shares Kizer's usual spec discipline: ceramic ball-bearing pivots, replaceable clips, and a designer credit instead of an anonymous OEM build.
The Two Tiers at a Glance
| Model | Steel | Handle | Lock | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ki3637A1 | S35VN | Titanium (gray) | Frame Lock | 3.03 oz | $169 |
| Ki3637A2 | S35VN | Titanium (black) | Frame Lock | 3.05 oz | $175 |
| V3637A1 | Nitro-V | G10 | Liner Lock | 3.44 oz | $34.50 |
| V3637A2 | Nitro-V | G10 Carbon Fiber | Liner Lock | 3.49 oz | $34.50 |
| V3637A3 | Nitro-V | Red & White G10 | Liner Lock | 2.73 oz | $37.95 |
| V3637C1 | 154CM | PEI | Liner Lock | 4.49 oz | $39.50 |
| V3637E1 | Nitro-V | Aluminum (SMKW exclusive) | Frame Lock | - | $39.99 |
The naming convention is the giveaway. Kizer's KizerB prefix (Ki3637) marks the premium tier; KizerV (V3637) marks the value tier. If you only remember one thing, remember that.
The Titanium Tier: Ki3637A1 and Ki3637A2
These are the versions most people picture when they hear "Varatas."
Both run S35VN - Crucible's mid-premium stainless that trades a little edge retention for noticeably better toughness than S30V. The blade is 3.27 inches long at 0.13 inch thick, which is a stout-for-its-size stock that keeps the tip from feeling fragile. Overall length lands at 7.66 to 7.68 inches, and both knives sit right around 86 grams (3.03 to 3.05 oz).
The gray Ki3637A1 wears a plain titanium handle with the triangular milling pattern and a squared-off pivot. The black Ki3637A2 adds black titanium plating for corrosion resistance and a low-key finish, plus blue anodized accents on the pivot and backspacer. Both use the hidden reversible 3D clip, both are frame locks, and both hit the same dimensions within a millimetre.
If you want the short version: the A1 is the clean, industrial-looking one, the A2 is the darker, dressier one. The $6 difference is purely cosmetic.
The Value Tier: Nitro-V, 154CM, G10 and PEI
The KizerV versions move to a liner lock and a slightly thinner 2.8 mm (0.11 inch) blade, but keep the same 3.24 inch drop point, the same 4.41 inch handle length, and the same front flipper and thumb hole.
- V3637A1 - black G10, black titanium-plated blade, 60-61 HRC, 97.6 g. This is the default choice if you just want a Varatas.
- V3637A2 - same recipe in G10 with a carbon fiber layer, 99 g. A little more visual texture for the same $34.50.
- V3637A3 - red and white G10 laser-etched with a game-controller pattern, 77.3 g. It is the lightest knife in the entire family and the only one with a stonewashed (rather than plated) blade.
- V3637C1 - USA 154CM with a translucent yellow "frag pattern" PEI handle, 4.49 oz. This is the heaviest and the most unusual-looking Varatas, and the only one running 154CM.
- V3637E1 - a Kizer Vault / SMKW exclusive "Overseer" with a blue-and-yellow aluminum handle and a frame lock at $39.99. Same 3.27 inch blade, same designer, different feel.
Steel Choices: S35VN vs Nitro-V vs 154CM
Three steels, three jobs.
S35VN (titanium tier): the best balanced stainless in the family. Good edge retention, high toughness, and genuinely easy to bring back on a stone compared to higher-vanadium steels. It is why the $169 version costs what it costs.
Nitro-V (most of the value tier): a nitrogen-alloyed stainless aimed at corrosion resistance and toughness rather than raw wear resistance. It takes a sharp edge quickly, resists staining well, and is a sensible choice for a knife that sees food, sweat and rain. For a deeper read on where it sits against the budget competition, see our comparison of 14C28N vs Nitro-V.
154CM (the PEI version): an American classic with solid edge retention and a long history in production knives. It is a middle ground - not as corrosion resistant as Nitro-V, not as wear resistant as S35VN. If you want the full breakdown of that trade-off, read 154CM vs S35VN. The wider reference on modern knife metallurgy lives over at Knife Steel Nerds.
Opening Action and Lock Choice
Every Varatas uses two manual opening methods: a front flipper on the spine-side tang and a thumb hole in the blade. That pairing is popular because it gives you a slow, quiet, two-finger roll for an office or a kitchen, and a fast flick when you need it. If you are deciding between opening styles on a different knife, our front flipper vs top flipper breakdown is the place to start.
The lock is where the two tiers genuinely diverge. The titanium Varatas uses a frame lock - the handle scale itself is the locking bar, which generally means fewer parts and a very direct feel. The G10 and PEI versions use a liner lock, where a steel liner inside the handle does the work. Historically frame locks are considered the stronger and more premium arrangement, but a well-made liner lock is more than adequate for EDC tasks. We covered the whole argument in frame lock vs liner lock.
One thing worth noting: because the budget tier uses a deep-carry reversible clip and the titanium tier uses a hidden 3D clip, the two tiers carry differently. The deep-carry clip sits lower in the pocket; the 3D titanium clip is flusher against the hand.
How the Varatas Fits Kizer's Lineup
Kizer's catalog is deep, and the Varatas lands in a specific spot between two of its best-known families.
The Kizer Original 2 is the other knife that offers an S45VN titanium version alongside a cheap 14C28N version - the same two-tier strategy. The difference is steel: the Original 2 tops out at S45VN, while the Varatas stays with S35VN, which is a little tougher and a little easier to sharpen.
Against a Kizer Drop Bear or a Begleiter, the Varatas is the thinner, more minimal package. If you want a knife that disappears in dress trousers, that is the trade you are making. For the whole map, see our Kizer knives guide.
Which Varatas Should You Buy?
- First Varatas, general EDC: V3637A1 at $34.50. Nitro-V, G10, 97.6 g, liner lock. Nothing to justify, nothing to explain.
- You want the lighter budget build: V3637A3 at $37.95, 77.3 g, stonewashed blade.
- You like unusual materials: V3637C1 at $39.50 with the frag-pattern PEI handle and 154CM.
- You want the real thing: Ki3637A2 at $175 or Ki3637A1 at $169. S35VN, titanium, frame lock, hidden clip, 86 g.
- You want a frame lock without the frame-lock price: V3637E1 at $39.99 - the SMKW aluminum exclusive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kizer Varatas a front flipper or a thumb-stud knife? Both opening methods are built in. Every Varatas has a front flipper and a thumb hole, so you can roll it open slowly or flick it.
What is the difference between Ki3637 and V3637? The Ki prefix denotes the KizerB titanium flagship (S35VN, frame lock, hidden 3D clip). The V prefix denotes the KizerV value line (Nitro-V or 154CM, liner lock, deep-carry reversible clip).
How big is the Varatas blade? Between 3.24 and 3.27 inches (82.4 to 83 mm) depending on variant, with a 0.11 to 0.13 inch blade thickness. Overall length is about 7.7 inches.
Is the Varatas good for everyday carry? Yes. At 2.73 to 4.49 oz with a 3.2-inch drop point and a reversible clip, it is sized for normal pocket carry rather than heavy outdoor work. Check your local blade-length rules before carrying.
Does the Varatas come in different steels? Three: S35VN on the titanium KizerB versions, and Nitro-V or 154CM on the KizerV versions.
The Bottom Line
The Varatas is a good demonstration of what a well-run knife brand does with one design: build a $35 version most people will actually buy, and a $175 version that shows what the same lines look like in titanium and S35VN. Pick the steel and handle that match your budget and how you carry, and either end of the family will serve you for years.
For the wider catalog and the rest of Kizer's 2026 line, browse the current Kizer official site, and if you want the background on drop-point geometry, the pocket knife reference is a decent primer.