Jack Wolf Knives has made a major impact on the knife community since they hit the market in 2022. Their exemplary construction, stellar design, and unique branding have taken the knife enthusiast world by storm. As their motto “Modern Interpretation, Timeless Design” suggests, they started with non locking modern interpretations of classic pocket knife patterns. Since the launch of Jack Wolf Knives they’ve expanded into several different “series” of knives. In this article I’ll tell you what you need to know about all of the Jack Wolf Knives series released so far.
Premium Series
The premium series is Jack Wolf Knives’ flagship line. The knives all include high end materials and hand fit and finished construction. The premium line employs titanium liners and bolsters, as well as S90V super steel for the blades. Within the Premium Series there are a few distinct types of knives offered.
Slipjoint
Jack Wolf Knives started by offering modern takes on classic non locking traditional patterns. Ben Belkin, owner of JWK, has applied his unique twist to many of the most well loved traditional patterns such as: Barlow, Trapper, Boy’s Knife, Sowbelly, Doctor’s Knife, Teardrop, Dogleg, Swayback, and more. These knives are made to a level of fit and finish that, in my opinion, is almost unmatched in today’s slipjoint market.
Modern
The premium series also includes some modern knives. Locking blades, one hand opening, and pocket clip carry are attributes that designate these knives as modern. The modern premium knives have, so far, have been larger versions of slipjoint models JWK has offered. The modern models from Jack Wolf Knives have a long pull, allowing for many opening methods (thumb roll, middle finger flick, and the ol’ reliable two finger pinch). They also have a front flipper, for quick and satisfying opening. Speaking of quick opening, the pivots are supplied with ball bearing washers that make them supremely smooth. All of these features come together to make for extremely practical modern knives that retain the classic design styling of the slipjoints.
Fixed
The premium series also includes Jack Wolf Knives’ in house fixed blade designs, dubbed “FixEDC” models. These are small every day carry intended fixed blades. Like the modern knives, they take design cues from JWK’s slipjoint patterns. The FixEDC knives come with high quality leather sheaths, including clips for pocket (or belt or in waistband) carry. The FixEDC models keep the same high quality fit and finish of the other premium series knives in a compact but capable package.
Steel Series
The steel series offers a middle ground of price and materials, without sacrificing build quality. These knives feature steel bolsters and liners and, so far, they have had 14c28n or 154cm steel. These materials are high quality, but not as exotic as the titanium and s90v of the premium series. In my experience, these steels perform more than well enough and can be hard to distinguish from “super steels” in real world use. The steel series retains the same type of detailed fine finishing of the premium series. In my opinion, the steel bolsters also can give a slightly more traditional look (though they still have screw construction). The steel series provides a great place to get Jack Wolf Knives’ superb quality at a lower price point.
Ultralight Series
The ultralight series brings “shadow”, or bolsterless, construction to Jack Wolf Knives. Rather than having steel or titanium liners and bolsters, the ultralight series has G10 liners and full handle length covers. So far, the covers have been synthetic composites like G10 and Micarta. This all comes together to cut down the weight by a good amount. For example, the K9 Jack weighs 3.32 oz in the Steel Series, 2.5 oz in Premium, and just 1.76 oz in Ultralight. Also, at least with its first (and only as of this writing) release, the ultralight series is slightly lower priced than the steel series. The ultralight series is tailored to those who want an unobtrusive slipjoint perfectly suited for carry.
(modified Bionic Jack and unreleased Lil Bro Jack)
Gateway Series
The Gateway Series, though only one knife in as of this writing, took the community by storm. As the name suggests, it offers an entry level price point for those more budget conscious. The first knife in the Gateway Series was a Barlow that came in at $70. The finish on these Gateway Series knives is certainly different than on the other series, with less crisp edges and transitions, but still impressive for the price point. Speaking of value, they have 14c28n steel, which certainly holds its own in my use, and even have exotic handle materials like carbon fiber and abalone. I think the savings come primarily in the finish style, which is more of a machine finish as compared to the hand fitted and finished other series. One important note for traditional knife enthusiasts is that, so far, the Gateway Series is the only slipjoint from JWK that has had pinned (rather than screwed) construction and a shield. The next iteration of the Gateway Series is highly anticipated by me and many other Jack Wolf Knives fans.
JWKollab Series
The Kollab Series is a place for designs by friends of Jack Wolf Knives that don’t fit into the normal lineup. So far Cerberus Knives and Jakeb Creates have contributed the Tango and Collusion, respectively. The Tango being a smaller more modern one hand opening and locking knife, and the Collusion being a slightly larger fixed blade (than the FixEDC knives). Ben’s designs within the core series are all imbued with his recognizable design language, so the Kollab series bringing in differing styles adds to Jack Wolf Knives’ breadth in meaningful ways. The Kollab series keeps the same high level of quality, but introduces unique design flavors.
USA Made Series
Last but not least, Jack Wolf Knives offers some knives made in the USA. So far these have been fixed blades; first the Prickly Pear designed by Taylor Cortes and made by Misfits Machining and second the Vampire Hunter made by L.T. Wright. Both came with USA-made leather sheaths from Taylored by Cortes. The USA made series has come in smaller batches, but I believe Ben is working to make more available. For some knife enthusiasts the country of manufacture is a huge factor, so the USA Made Series offers a good option for those who prefer domestic production.
Conclusion & Thanks
Jack Wolf Knives offers an incredible array of knives across their different series. From fixed blades to modern folders, Jack Wolf Knives now has something for nearly every type of knife enthusiast. There are also options at a wide range of price brackets, from under $100 to over $300. All of the knives are backed by one of the best in the business, Benjamin Belkin. There are numerous stories online of him going above and beyond to ensure the owners of Jack Wolf Knives have a good experience with the knives and the brand. He has helped to continue the resurgence of traditional slipjoint patterns. Ben has also been a long time friend and supporter of me and Knife Thoughts, and I am always glad to help get the word out about Jack Wolf Knives.
Where to Buy Jack Wolf Knives
Jack Wolf Knives are typically sold through their dealers. You can find their dealer list at this link. Some knives, like the USA made series, and accessories have also been sold direct from JackWolfKnives.com. I suggest buying your JWK knives from Austin at Traditional Pocket Knives (affiliate link). I also suggest joining the Facebook group, Jack Wolf Knives Worldwide. You can interact with other Jack Wolf Knives fans there, and there’s also a weekly BST (Buy/Sell/Trade) where you can find past releases offered that you likely won’t find at dealers. I hope you find the Jack Wolf Knife you’re looking for, and don’t forget to go out and do good!
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