Building the Gambit: A Masterclass Design By Ray Laconico
- Jun 20, 2025
- 3 min read
Artisan Cutlery x Ray Laconico: Scale Swapping and Jaw Dropping
For discerning knife enthusiasts, everyday carry (EDC) aficionados, and collectors who appreciate both master craftsmanship and versatile design, the "Building the Gambit: A Masterclass Design by Ray Laconico" is an extraordinary Kickstarter project. Spearheaded by Artisan Cutlery, this campaign brings to life a meticulously refined folding knife from legendary designer Ray Laconico, featuring an unprecedented innovation: interchangeable inlays, allowing you to personalize your blade like never before.
Project Overview
Name and Creator: Building the Gambit: A Masterclass Design by Ray Laconico by Artisan Cutlery
What It Is: The "Gambit" is Artisan Cutlery's latest folding knife design, a collaboration with the acclaimed knife maker Ray Laconico. It's envisioned as a sleek, elegant, and highly functional everyday carry (EDC) tool that stands out with its versatile form factor, comfortable grip, easy carry, and, for the first time in Artisan Cutlery's history, user-interchangeable handle inlays, offering unparalleled customization.
Key Features
Masterclass Design by Ray Laconico: The Gambit is a testament to Ray Laconico's signature style, known for its clean lines, exceptional ergonomics, and functional aesthetics. Every curve and angle of the Gambit is thoughtfully designed for optimal performance and a satisfying user experience. Artisan Cutlery has worked closely with Laconico since 2019, ensuring this design truly reflects his vision.
Interchangeable Inlays: A groundbreaking feature of the Gambit is its ability to quickly swap handle inlay pieces. This allows users to easily customize the knife's appearance to match their personal style, mood, or occasion. Artisan Cutlery plans to offer a variety of initial inlay materials and intends to expand the catalogue and even provide 3D printing files for those who wish to design their own.
Premium Blade Steel: All versions of the Gambit feature high-performance CPM S90V steel (with a hardness of HRC 60-62). S90V is a super stainless steel known for its exceptional edge retention, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for a demanding EDC knife that holds its edge for a very long time.
Versatile Blade Styles & Finishes: The Gambit comes with a flat-ground drop-point blade, a highly versatile profile suitable for a wide range of cutting tasks. It is offered with a variety of finishes, which may include Sand Polish, Black PVD Coating, and Mirror Polish, catering to different aesthetic preferences.
High-Quality Handle Materials: The knife will be offered with multiple initial handle options, ranging from durable and tactile materials like Black G10 and OD Green Micarta to premium choices such as Titanium Damascus and Full Titanium Scales, providing options for both everyday utility and luxurious appeal.
Smooth Action & Ergonomics: As expected from an Artisan Cutlery knife designed by Ray Laconico, the Gambit emphasizes flawless action and superior ergonomics. It is engineered for easy and satisfying deployment, a comfortable grip for various hand sizes, and effortless carry, potentially making it "the only knife you'll ever need" for many users.
Designed for the Long Game: Artisan Cutlery's philosophy for the Gambit is not just about a "hot new" release but about creating a timeless, durable, and highly versatile tool that will serve users reliably for years to come, emphasizing quality materials and enduring design.
Rewards
Individual Gambit Variants: Lowest priced knife starts at $166
There are lot of options when it comes to variety of Gambit Packs. Visit the reward pages for various options that can go all the way up to $1,650 for 6 knives.
The Idea
Concept: To introduce a masterfully designed everyday carry knife from Ray Laconico that not only offers exceptional performance and ergonomics but also unprecedented user customization through interchangeable handle inlays, making it a truly personal and versatile tool for the long haul.
Inspiration: Artisan Cutlery and Ray Laconico had been discussing this particular design for years, struggling to find a way to fully realize its potential. The breakthrough came with the idea of interchangeable inlays, which perfectly complemented the knife's versatile form factor. The project is born from Artisan Cutlery's commitment to high-end materials, exceptional ergonomics, and interesting designs, combined with Laconico's philosophy of simple, clean, and functional tools. By leveraging Kickstarter, they aim to bring this "winning play" to a global audience, allowing knife enthusiasts to own a piece of master-class design that can truly adapt to their personal style and needs, potentially becoming their "new EDC" for life.
