The Clap was designed by Bob Terzuola, the godfather of tactical knives, and produced by LionSteel Knives out of Maniago, Italy. "Produced in Maniago, Italy" is the theme of the entire enterprise for MKM, which is aptly named. This 'brand' is a collection of four of the top knife manufacturers in Italy working together to consolidate and strengthen their commercial contributions to foreign markets.
They've chosen to work with some highly regarded and sought-after American custom makers to launch the brand and they've already made quite a splash. MKM won Knife Collaboration of the Year with Lucas Burnley and Bob Terzuola at the 2018 BLADE Show, while Viper took home Overall Knife of the Year with the SURU and LionSteel won the Manufacturing Quality Award for the third time in five years. A spectacular start, and one that confirms and fuels the mission of the Maniago Knife Makers consortium and the MKM brand: consolidating the value and style of Made in Maniago, by working together as a team.
The Clap is a knife for the masses and that's a true statement in more ways than one. It was designed by the man, the myth, the legend who coined the term "tactical knife", yet its size makes it more suited for utility tasks than tactical ones in our minds. However, it's the addition of LionSteel's patented TRE (Three Rapid Exchange) system that cements this as a go-to utility blade. Well, it's more of a Two Rapid Exchange system if we're being honest, as this knife does not give you the option of thumb studs. The flipper tab is removable, which allows you to change this knife into a two-handed opener yourself, specifically meant for those living in restrictive localities like Europe. The knife is available in a number of different handle materials and each gives you the choice of going with or without titanium bolsters. The flipping action is crisp, the ergonomics are on point, and the manufacturing quality is unparalleled in the industry (apart from Chris Reeve); you won't be disappointed in the Clap from Bob Terzuola, LionSteel, and MKM.
