Tenable's designer-driven catalog has a new entry that leans traditional rather than tactical. The Riflestock B2131S3 is a slip joint folder from Nick Swan, a retired law enforcement officer whose designs consistently favor practical, carry-first utility over showpiece flourish. Priced at $64.89, it takes the classic gunstock pattern silhouette familiar from traditional knife makers and refits it with modern materials, including a blackwash Nitro-V blade and twill carbon fiber scales.
Design Highlights
According to Tenable, the Riflestock is Swan's take on the traditional gunstock-pattern slipjoint, a shape with deep roots in American pocket knife history. The design brief was simple: keep the profile slim enough to disappear into a pocket until needed, and make it for light everyday tasks rather than heavy duty work. At 5.48 inches overall and just 1.66 ounces, it clearly delivers on that front, carrying closer to a traditional peanut than a modern liner lock folder.
Swan's philosophy runs through the project. He is explicit that he does not believe in safe queens: a knife worth owning should be worth carrying and using. That mindset shows in the Riflestock's unpretentious layout. There are no bearings, no flips and no lock. Opening is by traditional two-handed or nailnick-style operation, and the blade is held by a slip joint spring, keeping the knife legal in jurisdictions with locking blade restrictions, including the United Kingdom.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Blade steel | Nitro-V (58-60 HRC) |
| Handle material | Twill carbon fiber |
| Overall length | 5.48 in / 139.1 mm |
| Blade length | 2.34 in / 59.5 mm |
| Blade thickness | 0.118 in / 3.0 mm |
| Blade style | Flat grind, blackwash finish |
| Weight | 1.66 oz / 47 g |
| Lock type | Slip joint (non-locking) |
| Designer | Nick Swan |
| Price (MSRP) | $64.89 |
| Status | Available |
Steel and Handle Breakdown
Nitro-V is a standout choice for a small working slip joint. The nitrogen-enhanced, vanadium-added steel offers a strong mix of edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance, and it is noticeably easier to sharpen than powdered super steels. In a 2.34-inch blade used for envelopes, packages, fruit and camp kitchen duty, a Nitro-V edge can easily go weeks between touch-ups, and the 58-60 HRC window keeps it stress-free to maintain.
Twill carbon fiber gives the Riflestock a modern surface treatment without adding meaningful weight. It is light, dimensionally stable and resistant to moisture, and the woven pattern adds grip that smooth micarta or bone sometimes lacks. Paired with the blackwash blade, the overall look splits the difference between a gent's traditional and a contemporary EDC piece, which is a fair summary of the knife's intent.
Market Position and Competitors
At $64.89, the Riflestock competes with brands like Rough Ryder's premium lines, Case's modern releases and QSP's traditional-pattern offerings, few of which ship Nitro-V with carbon fiber at this price. Tenable also offers the same model in a water ripple damascus and light blue anodized aluminum configuration (B2131S1) at $49.89 for buyers who prefer a flashier look on a budget. For UK-legal carry users, the non-locking format is a genuine advantage most modern EDC brands ignore.
The Verdict
The Riflestock B2131S3 is not trying to be a tactical tool or a grail piece. It is a thoughtfully executed traditional slip joint with upgraded steel and materials, designed by someone whose career taught him what actually matters in a carried knife. For traditionalists ready to move past 440-series steel, or modern EDC users curious about non-locking carry, it is one of the more compelling sub-$70 releases this season.