Shipping Paused Until 9/20/25 during move to new warehouse (will ship sooner if possible).
This Holiday season we’ve put together something extra special for you, and are excited to announce the AK 4.5 Limited Edition “Blackout” knife featuring 3V black cerakote steel, black G10 handle, and black carbon fiber pattern kydex sheath!
Only 50 knives available!
They will be live on 11/29/24
No additional discounts on this item.
Dale Stoops, founder of The Knife Connection designed the AK 4.5 in 2014, and it has now moved from prototyping to production under the ARCHITECT® KNIVES brand.
This blade is proudly made in the USA by White River Knife & Tool. The CPM 3V Steel blade features an expert “full” heat treat. The blade machining and finishing are top notch and what you would expect to see on knives costing much more.
The blade and handle have an unconditional lifetime warranty.
The AK 4.5 sits between the AK 3.5 and AK 5.5 for those who may still want a concealed carry knife or EDC belt knife, but need a little more than the AK 3.5 offers. As its name indicates, the blade length is 4.5″ and the 20 degree ground cutting edge is 4.4″ in length. Featuring 5/32″ thick steel, the AK 4.5 is able to withstand a great deal of hard use with ease. The high saber grind allows for excellent slicing capability while providing a bit more wedge action for splitting small chunks of wood and performing a variety of other bushcraft tasks.
Fresh from the drawing board, the AK 4.5 shares a new handle design with the AK 3.5, and offers a liberal length to accommodate all hand sizes. It fills the hand elegantly with its smooth ergonomic contours. This knife is well suited for dressing small to medium sized game. The handle grip is robust enough to maintain a secure grip even when wet and slippery. The blade’s thumb jimping provides a traction area when more downward force is needed and gives better blade control. The AK 4.5 features a flat (non-serrated) hammer pommel for use in a multitude of blunt force scenarios, and a uniquely designed “hidden” lanyard hole designed to accommodate standard 5/32″ / 4.0 mm paracord. The result is a clean looking and highly functional lanyard system.
Will (verified owner) –
The blade was very nice when I saw it online, but its beautiful in person. The carbon fiber style sheath is very sleek and low profile. I’m stationed in Germany and shipping was super fast. I’m relatively new to the knife culture, so for that past year or two, I’ve been looking for a blade that fits me and fits what I’m going to use it for. The 4.5 inch blade is the perfect size for the local laws where I live. I’ve seen a lot about architect knives on the internet and never heard a bad thing. This is my first AK, and definitely won’t be my last. Thanks guys!
Scott (verified owner) –
The AK 4.5, especially in CPM 3V, is fantastic. I prefer it to the numerous similar knives I have in this class. Design is just right as a general purpose knife, workmanship is awesome, just like my AK 3.5 and 5.5, and CPM-3V is just great steel. I prefer the AK 4.5 to my Esse 4 and 4HM, Becker BK series, and others, and it is a toss up with my more expensive LT Wright Genesis and GNS knives. Y
ou can not go wrong with an Architect Knives product. I am thoroughly impressed. Coming from an OCD individual with 166 knives in the collection, I view my 3 Architect Knives as being definitely in my top 10 favorites. Keep up the great work! I want more.
James Brennan (verified owner) –
Quality Products….have referred others to buy who are also impressed with the Quality and Price
Kyle L (verified owner) –
Best customer service you could ask for.
Richard L. (verified owner) –
I am very impressed with this knife. It is very comfortable in the hand, scales will fit a variety of hand sizes. Fit and finish are very high quality. Extremely sharp and the edge bevel is very even. Sheath is attractive and fits the knife well. This knife is a good value.
Keith C (verified owner) –
I got this for a hard use edc knife. The 3v steel is tuff and the coating will help against rust. Arkitect are a good company to deal with and it was a good experience.
The comparison photo is with a Bradford Gardian 4 in 3v and a WhiteRiver M1 caper in magnacut.