Who Is This Magnus Guy?

If every decision you've ever made in your life has somehow managed to land you on this page right now, then I fear something has gone horribly wrong.

 

But don't panic. We're going to work through this together.

 

First up, here's my face...

Unfortunately the above photo really is an accurate depiction of what I look like ...and, ever worse, I'm actually just pretending I'm working hard whilst being surrounded by fancy CNC machines.

Here's the just-give-me-it-all-in-one-paragraph-so-I-can-get-on-with-my-day version:

"Currently the world's #1 high-end fidget maker. Have designed and made over 70+ different Titanium products over 13 years (Pens, Tweezers, Utility Blade Knives, Carabiners, etc.. 100% of designing and making is done in-house here in my workshop in New Zealand. "

Okay, big deal, I've done some stuff that isn't knifemaking. But you're here on a website specifically called "Magnus Knives" ...so I better address this pretty damn quick!

 

Here's the thing...

 

As I type this I have made a few flipper knife prototypes over the years but -- and I'm going to be 100% honest with you here -- I just couldn't bring myself to push forward with them to production.

 

Why?

 

Well, brace yourself, because you're about to get a front-row seat to my obsessive nature and general personality flaws.

 

The thing is, I've never been a fan of frame-locks and liner-locks (even though they're the most popular locking mechanisms).

 

Don't get me wrong...

 

I have owned - and still own - a bunch of frame-lock and liner-lock knives. I have absolutely nothing against them. They are the best solution the whacky world of knives has had so far. But, to me, they have always been a good-but-not-great solution.

 

Hand-on-heart you have my absolute assurance I am not being critical of big or small knifemakers for using these types of locking mechanisms. These are tried and tested. From big, mass-production makers ...down to the horribly-well-skilled custom knifemakers using manual CNC machines ...it's a very good way to go.

 

My dissatisfaction with frame-locks and liner-locks is genuinely a "me" problem ...and I am absolutely aware of that.

But here's why this is good for you:

 

Over my years of designing hundreds of different products -- and getting nearly a hundred of them past the prototype stage and into production (all 100% in-house of course) -- I have learned some things about designing and making.

 

This is going to sound arrogant (and, to be fair, it is)...

 

But if there is one thing I have become (probably) the best at - it's mechanisms.

 

One example is our SlideClick Utility Blade Knife. There are many, many utility blade knives on the market ...but I have been told over and over and over again the SlideClick design is hands-down the best (and that's from people who have over 100+ such knives from different makers).

There's not been an "official" vote ...but I'm pretty sure we are #1 - World's Best Utility Blade Knife.

Another example is the mechanism in our Titanium ClickShift Pen. This was another never-been-done-before mechanism.

 

In fact, this mechanism was so good the owner of the #1 Titanium Pen maker -- Will Hodges from Tactile Turn -- reached out and asked if he could license the mechanism. Which, of course, I was happy to do. He uses the mechanism in his famous "Switch" pen.

Not only were my two pens (ClickShift and Bolt-Action) in the very popular video of the best pens of 2025...

...but we took both #1 and #2 places.

Long story short...

 

The weird combination of my:

 

-- Obsessive-compulsive personality defects

-- Dissatisfaction with traditional locks

-- and my proven ability to design mechanisms

...has resulted in something NEW to the world of knives.

As is typically the case with most company founders, I am the problem (just ask anyone who works here). Luckily though, this unique knife-locking solution more than makes up for it ...I hope.

But, before we get to that...

 

I'll share a few of my deepest, darkest secrets with you. Actually, not really, that would be weird this early on in our relationship. :-P

 

Until we get to know each other better I'll just share the deep-but-not-too-deep stuff.

 

Firstly, I don't do well with anything designed and made for the masses. There are a few reasons for this - but the #1 reason is because of the compromises pretty much everyone makes.

 

Most products are designed to be made with costs cut as much as possible. I get it. You want to try and reduce the cost of making things.

 

But here's where my head explodes:

 

Most products are not just manufactured with keeping costs as low as possible ...but they're designed from the very beginning to be as cheap as possible to make. The look, feel, materials used, ...basically EVERYTHING has been compromised. Drives me bananas!

This is where you and I probably have something in common...

 

The fact you've read this far tells me that what I'm saying right now must be striking a chord with you.

 

You've probably figured this out already, and that is, I don't make compromises. Full stop. From the concept, to the design, to the materials, to the final making of the product. It's all done in-house - because, as a small business, I like to have control of every little thing (again, obsessive flaws).

 

At every point I refuse to compromise.

 

Does this cause problems?

 

Well, yes and no.

 

It's not a problem for me - because I would close down my business before I would compromise.

 

But it is a problem for people who don't appreciate design and quality and are "price sensitive". I'm not talking to those people. And I know you're not one of those people. Those people can, and should, go and buy some mass-produced knife for a few hundred dollars.

You and I are here for different reasons.

 

If I wanted to provide you with the best bang-for-your-buck knife, then I could easily do that. I could make a frame-lock knife (I haven't). I could cut a few corners here and there (I refuse to). I could buy in the hardware (I design and make it all in-house).

 

I can sell you a knife just like everyone else - but that's just not how I move through life. It run against everything I stand for.

 

As part of my wide range of personality flaws I have a reasonable big ego. I genuinely get a kick out of designing and making things no one else will attempt.

 

Magnus Knives - 2026