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You may have used one or more folding knives that work by opening and closing their blades. Having one such versatile knife that can handle different tasks indoors and outdoors is perhaps enough for you. However, what if there is a knife that can be twisted to give you more functionalities? Well, this is what a Fortel knife is all about!
This knife is a spectacle to behold, as it takes the design as well as the functionality of a small folding knife to a new dimension. It is the brainchild of a team at Atroposknife, a custom knife company based in Russia that was founded by knifemaker Konstantin Sazhin. Atroposknife’s Fortel is perhaps among the most bizarre knives to use or collect. It comes sheathed in a baton-like style. Upon unscrewing it, you see an extensible blade as well as a two-pronged fork. The company has termed this knife as a ‘transformer’. Let’s find out more about it!
Fortel Design
The transformer knife looks similar to some storage tubes that you can pull apart, store some tiny items, and put it back into the wallet for quick reach when required. However, it is not so. The tube design is the abode of some distinct elements, which makes this curious knife quite versatile.
It consists of two elongated cylinders connected in the middle via a metallic ring. One of them is the sharp blade coming from the handle like a fixed slicer, while the other is the sheath featuring two prongs acting like a fork. Thus, you get a knife and fork combo.
When you unlock the knife, the tube splits into these two cylinders, one being the sheath and the other being the blade. Honestly, this is a superb way to hide a knife while being in the open. However, most of us are more likely to consider the tube design as a flashlight, a storage box, or a dull weapon.
The Functioning of the Fortel Knife
The tube design of this Atropos knife comes with a locking mechanism. To unlock it, you only need to turn both the cylinders in opposite directions. The lock is quite secure due to which there is no need to bother about the inadvertent turning of the tubes while the knife is not in use.
Upon separating the tubes, you will see a blade and handle of similar length affixed together. This indicates lots of leverage for several hefty cutting tasks. As a result, this bizarre-looking knife becomes truly useful whether you are at your home or office, in a shop, or the wild.
The other half of the tube acting as a sheath has a pair of sharp prongs or spikes on the detachable portion of the handle, making the knife ideal for use as a fork. Thus, at your disposal, there are two handy cutleries using which you can feast on a campsite. Moreover, the fork can also act as a second reliable weapon, considering the sharpness of prongs.
Coming to the hidden distinct elements, they are all functional and supportive. For example, the blade is truly 7.7 inches long and the remaining of it is concealed within the handle. To have its full length, you only need to twist the knife’s bottom for deactivating the lock and then fold the handle.
In other words, that blade is genuinely twice as long as it seems to be when initially detached from the sheath, and can be folded out again to become double in length. At the full length, this knife appears to be like a machete instead of a plain knife.
As the 4.5-inch long handle is a bit small for such a long blade, you can opt for affixing the fork tube to the knife’s bottom to double the handle’s length. This facilitates you to hold it as a miniature sword.
The blade is constructed using hard steel whose hardness level is 60 on the Rockwell scale. The tubes, on the other hand, are made using aluminum, while the handle is made using the Russian micarta material.
Thus, this knife can be useful for most cutting applications. The overall build is light enough to suit most users.
Here is a demo of the Fortel Fisherman.
Models in Fortel Series
Okay, now it is time for you to know about the Fortel models. All of them are termed as Transformers. These are as follows:
Pocket Fortel : This sells for $165. Here are the features of the Pocket version.
- Steel: D2
- Hardness: 60 HRC
- Blade thickness: 3 mm
- Blade length close: 70 mm
- Blade length open: 127 mm
- Full length open: 275 mm
- Full length close: 150 mm
- Handles: Russian micarta and aluminum
- Weight: 100 gram
Pocket Fortel Steampunk : This sells for $199. It comes with Copper ring
- Steel: D2
- Hardness: 60 HRC
- Blade thickness: 2.8 mm
- Blade length (close): 70 mm
- Blade open: 127 mm
- Close length: 165 mm
- Handles: Micarta
- Weight: 150 gram
Pocket Fortel Stabilwood : This sells for $197.
- Steel: D2
- Hardness: 60 HRC
- Blade thickness: 3 mm
- Blade length close: 70 mm
- Blade length open: 127 mm
- Full length open: 275 mm
- Full length close: 150 mm
- Handles: Stabilwood
- Weight: 100 gram
Pocket Fortel Cullet : It sells for $350 and comes with Titanium ring. There are two varient of this knife. Black&Orange and Lemon.
- Steel: D2
- Hardness: 60 HRC
- Blade thickness: 2.8 mm
- Blade length (close): 70 mm
- Blade open: 127 mm
- Close length: 165 mm
- Handles: G10
- Weight: 150 gram
Pocket Fortel “White Walker” Plexiglass : The expensive Pocket Fortel sells for $499 and comes with Aluminium ring.
- Steel: “Dragon glass” (Bohler B400 and D2) oxidation
- Hardness: 60 HRC
- Blade thickness: 2.8 mm
- Blade length (close): 70 mm
- Blade open: 127 mm
- Close length: 165 mm
- Handles: Plexiglass
- Weight: 150 gram
Pocket Fortel “White Walker”: This Pocket Fortel also sells for $499 and comes with Aluminium ring.
- Steel: “Dragon glass” (Bohler B400 and D2) oxidation
- Hardness: 60 HRC
- Blade thickness: 2.8 mm
- Blade length (close): 70 mm
- Blade open: 127 mm
- Close length: 165 mm
- Handles: G10
- Weight: 150 gram
Ladies Fortel : The cheapest in the list that sells for $115.
- Steel: D2
- Hardness: 60 HRC
- Blade thickness: 3 mm
- Blade length close: 70 mm
- Blade length open: 127 mm
- Full length open: 275 mm
- Full length close: 150 mm
- Handles: Russian Micarta and Aluminum
- Weight: 95 gram
Fortel Fisherman : This knife sells for $235.
- Steel: D2
- Hardness: 60 HRC
- Blade length: 4.33 inch
- Full blade length: 7.67 inch
- Blade thickness: 0.12 inch
- Close size: 8.85 inch
- Full open size: 16.33 inch
- Handles: Russian Micarta
Fortel DM with Glass: One of the expensive set in the list that sells for $578 and comes with a small Aluminium glass.
- Original Damascus Steel
- Hardness: 62 HRC
- Blade thickness: 3.3 mm
- Blade length (closed): 126 mm
- Blade length (open): 225 mm
- Full length (closed): 255 mm
- Full length (open): 480 mm
- Handles: Russian Micarta and Aluminum
- Weight 450 gram
Mini Fortel: This mini version of the Fortel knife comes with a small bottle of whiskey and a small Aluminum glass. It sells for $178.
- Steel: D2
- Hardness: 60 HRC
- Blade length close: 42 mm
- Blade length open: 68 mm
- Full length knife open: 176 mm
- Full length knife close: 110 mm
- G10 handles
- Weight 1.7 oz
Fortel Tourist : This sells for $227.
- Steel: N690
- Hardness: 58 HRC
- 60: HRC
- Blade length: 4.33 inch
- Full blade length: 7.67 inch
- Blade thickness: 0.12 inch
- Close size: 8.85 inch
- Full open size: 16.33 inch
Custom Damascus Titanium Big Fortel : The last one is currently the most expensive one to buy but it is also the sleekest one to have. This sells for $999.
- Original Damascus Steel
- Hardness: 62 HRC
- Blade thickness: 3.3 mm
- Blade length (closed): 126 mm
- Blade length (open): 225 mm
- Full length (closed): 255 mm
- Full length (open): 480 mm
- Titanium and G10 handles
- Weight: 650 gramm
Yes, Fortel knives are not cheap. Even the most affordable one is priced using a three-digit figure. You can buy a Fortel knife from the official website of Atroposknife.
There is also a Fortel Fisherman version from BATTLBOX, that is available on Amazon.
- The Most Unique Camp & Fillet Knife On The Planet - Featured in BattlBox (Mission 58)
- Canvas Micarta with Aluminum pommel and cam locks
- Convertible 4”- 7.5 Stainless Steel Blade
- Two prongs for holding fish while filleting or to use as a fork
- Same half can also be added to the handle end of bladed half to extend handle for more leverage when needed
Cutlery Lover does a comparison video on the Original version and the Battlbox one.
Conclusion
Fortel knives are transformer knives that are partially a tool, partially a weapon, and partially a utensil.These are folding knives that features two cylinders, one holding a sharp blade and the other as a sheath holding two sharp spikes. These knives comes in various sizes.
You can use it as a knife, fork, mini-sword, and machete due to its flexible design. Although it looks like a simple tube, the design is handy enough to deploy a blade to make it significantly long. It is the design that keeps the knife concealed. The knife can do much more than simply opening and closing the blade; it can twist itself in more than one way to ensure versatility in terms of functionality.
Hi, I am Jay. I am the creator of Knife Guides, your one-stop site for everything related to knives. I am a computer engineer by profession, knife aficionado by passion. Here I work with a group of people who’ve always had a passion for knives and blades. Over the years we’ve kind of become experts and decided to share our knowledge and ideas. I am also an avid hiker and enjoy offshore gamefishing.
