CPM MagnaCut was designed from the ground up by metallurgist Larrin Thomas and produced by Crucible Industries to outperform the previous generation of powder-metallurgy steels across all three primary categories simultaneously. Compared to CPM-S35VN, CPM MagnaCut delivers significantly better edge retention, equal or better toughness, and vastly superior corrosion resistance — it approaches the rust resistance of H1 steel while maintaining the hardness and easy sharpenability you'd expect from a premium stainless alloy. For daily pocket carry, that means a blade that holds its edge longer between sharpenings, resists moisture better, and still comes back sharp on a standard bench stone without fighting you.

Stonewash is applied by tumbling the blade with abrasive media, which creates a matte, multi-directional texture across the surface. That texture does three things for a working carry knife: it diffuses reflected light so the blade doesn't flash in low-light environments, it hides the minor surface scratches and scuffs that accumulate with real daily use so the knife continues to look presentable, and it provides a slightly grippy texture on the flat that aids control during detail work. For buyers who plan to carry and use the Bel Air hard rather than preserve it as a display piece, stonewash is the correct finish choice.

A reverse tanto features a spine that curves downward to meet the edge rather than the angular clip of a traditional tanto. The result is a reinforced, mass-forward tip that concentrates cutting force on a small contact area — ideal for controlled puncture, box work, strapping, and any task where tip precision and strength matter. The flat grind on the Bel Air keeps the edge versatile for slicing tasks as well, so the reverse tanto geometry doesn't sacrifice general EDC usability in exchange for tip performance.

The Bel Air 6105OLSW is a SpeedSafe assisted-opening folding knife — not an automatic or OTF. It requires manual thumb stud pressure to initiate opening, which places it outside the federal definition of a switchblade. That said, assisted-opening knife laws vary by state, city, and municipality. Knifeworks cannot provide legal advice. Check your local laws at akti.org (American Knife and Tool Institute) before carrying, or call us at 888-225-9775 and we'll point you in the right direction.

Kershaw offers a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. If the knife fails due to a manufacturing defect, Kershaw will repair or replace it at no charge. Warranty service is handled directly by Kershaw — not Knifeworks. Submit a claim through Kershaw's website at kershawknives.com with a description of the issue and proof of purchase. Normal wear, cosmetic finish wear, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

SpeedSafe is Kershaw's proprietary assisted-opening system built into the pivot with a torsion bar spring. You initiate the opening stroke manually by pressing the thumb stud — once the blade reaches a set angle, the torsion bar kicks in and snaps the blade fully open and locked. The result is confident one-handed deployment faster than a standard manual folder without crossing into automatic territory under federal law. The 6105OLSW features ambidextrous thumb studs for left- and right-handed carry.

CPM MagnaCut is one of the more maintenance-friendly premium steels available. It sharpens readily on ceramic rods, fine diamond stones, or any standard bench sharpening system — no specialized abrasives required. The stonewash finish will show edge wear at the bevel with use, which is normal and expected. Wipe the blade dry after exposure to moisture, apply a light coat of food-safe mineral oil if storing for extended periods, and the blade will hold its performance and appearance through years of daily carry.

Yes. The Bel Air 6105OLSW is manufactured at Kershaw's production facility in Tualatin, Oregon. USA-made Kershaw knives go through domestic quality control and are held to tighter fit-and-finish standards than Kershaw's offshore production line. The 6105OLSW is part of the Bel Air platform series — all variants in the 6105 series are USA production pieces.