For the last few months, the outdoor industry, with most other manufacturing industries in the US, The same is done in a pickle on the buzzword: tariff. With the start of the Trump administration and stopping at import taxes, Disruption has affected brands Of all sizes. It is struggling to forecast budget to many companies and plan for the future.

Puffy By creating a very desirable blade at decent prices, the knife has made its way to the top of the industry. But it has long been dependent on foreign manufacturers to do so, and there was no question that these tariffs were going to affect all KNAFS imports of all products – almost its complete list.

In response, KNAFS quickly pivsed and started experimenting to see if it could produce knife, not only domestic, but to boot in the house completely. The result was Little LuluA 5.2-inch, three-finger fixed blades of magnet steel, adorned with a mixed handle scale.

Little Lulu does not just represent the fact that some brands can pivit to produce domesticly. This knife, which lacks size, but bolts utility, proves that the brands can add the title of “knife manufacturer” to their company profiles.

And this is a big thing.

In short: Little Lulu Lemon stands as a story of changing the economic lemon in the manufacture of lemonade through determination and innovation. This blade proves that the size is not the most important factor in the knife, and the pocket indicates the growing trend of fixed-blade movement. It also shows that making something in the USA is not really easy, no matter how much you try.

Knafs lyl lulu review

design features

Little Lulu presented some obstacles to KNAFS. While the brand manufacturer was accustomed to sending his designs to find out, KNAFS now had to deal with those manufacturing challenges. This means that design obstacles handled and changed in front.

After investing in a new CNC machine and creating some new domestic participation, KNAFS turned to friends Mountain route designEven in Utah, to help pill the knife from the designer to the knife manufacturer. In the form of Little Lulu, as part of the lulu lineup, efforts were paid, however, stands alone in both forms and work.

Little Lulu in-House is made of CNC’D and a piece of ground magnet steel. Magnakut has been the EDC “IT” steel for the past few years as it is due to cruelty, corrosion resistance and balance in edge retention. For the handle scale, KNAFS chose to wrap Little Lulu in Micarta, which was also processed at its headquarters in Utah.

When you order Little Lulu through current kick Campaign, it comes with green micratic scales that beautyly bounces stoned magnets with steel. For Carrie, it comes with a multi -purpose Kydex sheath.

On pledging, you have the option to add Black Cerakot Blade to Extra like Finnish, Mexican blanket g-car Scale by GL Henson & Sons out of Idaho (test), and a leather sheath by another Utah Staple, Lazy 3 leather cum,

made in USA: less than 100%

Like organic foods, there is a sliding scale of standards that indicates whether a knife is made in the USA. These are determined by the standard Federal trade commission And when it comes to sourcing and manufacturing, they are clear as mud.

Here is the breakdown of parts and materials found in Little Lulu:

Magf Steel

Crucible Steel of Syracuse, New York has long been the only manufacturer of magnet steel. When it became bankrupt earlier this year, it was purchased EreselA French company. This factor, as well as with the fact that some steel processing occurs in Sweden, means that magnets have not been made in the US.

Hardware

Hardware of knife is obtained from American company McMaster-Carr. However, the hardware is from China. Additionally, Kydex Myan Gromets are made in China.

Mickarta

Micarta scales Meriden, Con., Company comes from the company Spice supplyIf I was still staying at home I grew up, I could scream, “Hello!” For the building. I have spent several hours in that warehouse. He said, the materials of the brand are processed here but are originally foreigners.

Kidex

Knafs get from your Kydex KnifeAn online retailer who is a magnet for knife manufacturers who are looking at the source of the source and pieces. His Kydex is “built with minimum 90% domestic content in the United States”.

So even if a little lulu is produced in a garage in uta, it is No “Built in USA” is considered because the material is not all domesticly sour. This means that when it comes to the original country, KNAFS will have to tell that Little Lulu is “built in the United States of domestic and foreign parts.”

After all, what does it mean? Even with all the efforts, the KNAFS put a little lulu here, it still feels the effect of tariffs. This is not to say that this enterprise was not a clear success, though. At the time of writing, the Kickstarter Campaign is going to triple its overall target of its $ 50,000.

Additionally, I am smooching as kittens with small bugs.

first impressions

A month before or before it will make a knife domestic before confirming KNAFS, it teased her Micarta scales on an episode of her video blog, Knafs@nite,

Given how much I love Micrata, it is safe to say that I was contradictory – no matter what this knife was to be. However, I never thought that it would actually be as small as it would. Keeping the standard lulu in mind, 6.75 inches and its cousin, the new lander is 4, 5.9 inches, I should have seen it coming.

All that said, when Little Lulu landed, I was impressed with the way I was fit in my hand, as well as how well Choil played in the ability to be so versatile. KNAFS sent both Green Micara and Mexican blankets G-Carta with both scales, as well as both sheath options, and I found myself overwhelmed.

Mexican blankets and leather sheaths are distinguished, although Green Mickarta and Kedex are sheaths. I don’t think I have postponed such options in a long time, but I settled on the G-Karta and Leather configuration to start my experience with Mighty Mite.

In the field

I am not sure that the way I am wired, but within a few days the first few days of carrying Little Lulu, I found that while ignoring my big pocket knife in its favor. It is not a knife that means to bat the wood or to solve all the problems and tasks that you have come out in your day-to-day life or in the forest. But Little Lulu is the knife that is easy to access for small, monthly functions you always have.

Ever struggled to open a package of hot dogs or to open its latest Amazon treasure? How to throw all those boxes to throw all those boxes to throw into a pit for one night in the light flickering? Little Lulu is a taskmaster in an area where a large knife can feel completely like an overcast.

It is quite small to wear around your neck for trips when you get out in the yard in your jams and require a blade.

Overall, the Little Lulu is a sidewalking knife. Like the majority of other knives in the pocket fixed-blade category, it is an easy-to-access and incompatible tool that spends more time in spending with you, it becomes priceless. Do not let your size become foolish, it is very versatile.

conclusion: what’s that for?

As a knife, I have spent a lot of time in modeling in 3D and programming CNC machines. I have also spent bending over a lathe, changing the belt on a mill, and also a hand surrounded knife in the morning hours.

What KNAFS is experiencing with this latest project is one of the most satisfactory parts of being a knifemaker.

There is no mass production here. The handle scale on each knife line is correct for that specific knife. Gromates on Kydex sheath are not completely – and this is fine. This is what you want. he is human touchNot only is it one of my favorite Knafs knife, but it (in my opinion) is also the most important of the brand.

No, it did not beat the tariff game completely, but it took it, on the head. Finally, knafs are better for this.

Everyone involved has a new skill and KNAFS, as a company, it is more capable than ever. For a boy like founder Ben Peterson, who has been in the world of knife for a while, it is a watershed moment for him and his team.