Work Sharp has only been making knives since last year, but the Oregon-based brand — best known for its sharpening systems — has already figured out one of the industry's most effective strategies: when you land on a winning design, iterate relentlessly. The RMX nameplate now exists in at least half a dozen iterations, and the latest might also be the most fun. It's called the RMX Habanero Thumbstud Reverse Tanto, and it ships with a bottle of custom hot sauce.
Let's start with the knife itself. The RMX Thumbstud Reverse Tanto, released just weeks ago, was already a standout. It was the first folder to combine a reverse tanto blade profile with an ambidextrous thumb stud — two fan-favorite features that, until then, hadn't shared the same handle. The Habanero edition brings that same formula back with a fiery visual overhaul.
The 3.2-inch CPM-3V steel blade gets a blacked-out Cerakote finish for resistance against corrosion, chemicals, abrasion, and extreme temperatures. The magnesium integral handle is finished in Habanero Red H-318 Cerakote — a specific, vibrant shade that makes this knife impossible to overlook. A button lock enables smooth one-handed deployment and retraction, keeping the action crisp and intuitive.
But the real conversation piece is what comes in the box alongside the knife. Work Sharp's director of product, Kyle Crawford, tapped his longtime favorite hot sauce maker — Butterfly Bakery, a small-batch Vermont operation whose concoctions have appeared on Hot Ones — to create an exclusive habanero-based sauce called Heat Treated Habs. The 5-ounce bottle is packed right in with the knife, and Work Sharp describes the flavor profile as "bright fruit up front and real heat behind it."
This is the kind of product branding that actually delivers something tangible. Too often, special editions charge a premium merely for a new colorway. Here, the $20 premium over the standard model gets you a legitimately good bottle of hot sauce from a respected maker. The knife is the real draw — but the sauce is a genuinely thoughtful bonus that makes the whole package feel like a complete experience rather than a marketing exercise.
Key Specs:
Blade Length: 3.2 inches
Steel: CPM-3V with black Cerakote finish
Handle: Magnesium integral, Habanero Red H-318 Cerakote
Lock: Button lock
Deployment: Ambidextrous thumb stud
Bonus: 5 oz bottle of Heat Treated Habs hot sauce by Butterfly Bakery
Price: $170 (Reserve Series, while supplies last)
Availability: Available now