Work Sharp has built its reputation on sharpeners, so a folding knife from the company is always worth a second look — and the RMX MisFit Compact Reverse Tanto is not a rebadged generic. It is a 2.4-inch folder in CPM-3V with a Cerakote-coated magnesium handle, a 15-degree-per-side edge, and a mechanism that can be switched between manual and automatic deployment with a supplied kit. It is available now at $160.
The Argument for Less Blade
The MisFit's selling point is that its blade is short — 2.4 inches — while its handle is full-sized. That is the reverse of the usual formula, where designers shrink the handle to keep the overall package compact and leave the user with three fingers of grip. Giving a two-inch blade a four-finger handle means the hand sits closer to the work, the wrist stays neutral, and the tip goes where the eye is looking.
Work Sharp's examples are specific and credible: snipping a zip tie pulled tight against a wiring harness, cutting an irrigation line an inch from a fitting, opening a box of parts without scoring what is inside. All three are tasks where a longer blade is actively worse, because the extra length puts the edge where you cannot see it. Tradespeople have known this for years; most folding knife marketing has not caught up.
The handle is magnesium with a Cerakote shield, which is an unusual material choice. Magnesium is roughly a third lighter than titanium by volume, and Cerakote gives it abrasion resistance and grip that bare metal lacks. The knife weighs 2.3 ounces as a result — light enough that it disappears in a work pants pocket.
15 Degrees Per Side, and Why CPM-3V Matters
The edge geometry is the most interesting specification on the sheet. Work Sharp grinds the MisFit full flat and sharpens it to 15 degrees per side, where most production folders ship at 17 to 20. A thinner edge cuts with less resistance and keeps cutting as it dulls, because the apex wears back into a still-usable bevel rather than into a shoulder.
The catch is that a 15-degree edge in a brittle steel chips. Work Sharp's answer is CPM-3V, a particle-metallurgy tool steel with about 0.8 percent carbon and 7.5 percent vanadium. Crucible designed it for industrial blades that see impact, and its toughness is well above any stainless in the same hardness range — which is exactly what a thin edge needs. CPM-3V is not stainless, though, and the coating on the blade helps but does not make it corrosion-proof. This is a knife to wipe down after a wet day.
The reverse tanto profile reinforces the tip for scoring and scraping, which suits the tradesman framing. It also means the MisFit is a poor choice for anyone who wants a belly for slicing; the edge is nearly straight.
A Mechanism You Can Convert
The other headline feature is the opening system. Work Sharp revives the convertible mechanism from its original RMX design, letting the owner switch between manual and automatic deployment using a small kit included with the knife. That is a genuinely uncommon capability — most manufacturers pick a side and stay there, partly because of legal complexity. Automatic knives are restricted in many jurisdictions, and a knife that can be either is useful for someone who travels between states.
Buyers should check local law before ordering the automatic configuration. The manual setting is the safer default, and the conversion is reversible.
Specs at a Glance
Blade: 2.4-inch reverse tanto, CPM-3V, full flat grind, 15 degrees per side
Handle: full-size magnesium with Cerakote coating
Weight: 2.3 ounces
Carry: reversible deep-carry clip, removable to expose a triangular lanyard hole
Deployment: manual or automatic, user-convertible with included kit
Price: $160, available now
The Verdict
The RMX MisFit is a knife designed by a company that spends its days thinking about edges, and it shows. A 15-degree bevel in CPM-3V is a deliberate, defensible choice that most brands avoid because it invites complaints from buyers who expect a pry bar. The short blade with the full handle is the same kind of decision: less impressive on a spec sheet, better in a hand.
At $160 it is priced against established work folders rather than against budget EDC, and the magnesium handle will be the dividing line — some buyers will see weight savings, others will see a material they do not associate with knife frames. Either way, the MisFit makes a coherent argument that blade length and capability are not the same measurement. It is available now directly from Work Sharp.