GiantMouse Elmer Black Limited Editions

GiantMouse is selling three limited editions of its Elmer automatic knife at $395 each. They are the Black Diamond Abalone, limited to 100 pieces, the Black Diamond Gold Pearl, limited to 50, and the Blackout Abalone, also limited to 50. All three are built on the same platform and differ only in handle texture and inlay.

The Elmer is made in the US by Pro-Tech Knives and deploys a 3.2-inch straight-back blade by push-button. The blade is CPM MagnaCut finished in black PVD, a steel chosen for a balance of toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance rather than any single extreme property. Open length is 7.8 inches and the knife weighs 3.2 ounces. The scales are black aluminum, and the pocket clip is milled from titanium.

The variants earn their names honestly. The two Black Diamond versions share a diamond-textured handle, separated by an Abalone inlay on one and a Gold Pearl inlay on the other. The Blackout Abalone drops the diamond pattern entirely, leaving a smooth handle with only the mouse-head logo and the Abalone push-button carrying the design.

Three hundred ninety five dollars is a real sum for a 3.2-ounce aluminum-and-steel folder, and the knife underneath is identical to the standard Elmer in every spec that matters for cutting. What you are paying for is the inlay, the limited count and the fact that 50 or 100 of a thing exist rather than an open run. That is a legitimate reason to buy a knife. It is also the only reason, since the blade steel and mechanism do not change.