After a year-long hiatus, the Heckler & Koch (HK) gun brand is getting back in the knife business. Hogue will pick up HK Knives where Benchmade left off after it discontinued the line in October 2016.

Hogue will unveil three USA made HK Knives at SHOT Show 2018 in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Leading the relaunch are the Exemplar, a thumb-stud folder, the Hadron, an OTF, and the Karma, a rescue flipper. The new HK Knives clearly exhibit a more Hogue-like tactical vibe.

HK Exemplar

Though Hogue calls it a “pivot lock folder,” it appears that the HK Exemplar may be the first non-Benchmade USA made knife to feature an AXIS lock since the patent expired last year. The HK Exemplar comes with a 3.25 inch clip-point blade and machined G-10 handles. The knife will be available in two black-coated partially serrated variations; either in black or ‘flat dark earth’ (shown below) colored scales at an MSRP of $169.96. A plain edge tumbled finish blade with a black handle will also be available for $149.96. Like the Hadron and Karma, the Exemplar’s blade steel has yet to be disclosed.

HK Hadron

The HK Hadron is an out-the-front (OTF) automatic knife with a 3.375 inch blade. It will be offered in a partially serrated black-coated tanto blade for $299.95 or black-coated plain edged clip point version for $289.95. Either blade configuration is available in a choice of matte black or matte flat dark earth colored aluminum handles.

HK Karma

The HK Karma is a tactical rescue flipper outfitted with a glass breaker, oxygen wrench, and rotating strap cutter. Hogue says “the knife is strategically shaped for gloved or bare hand [carry].” The Karma will be available in 3.75 inch partially serrated black coated spear point or tanto varieties in either black or ‘safety orange’ G-10 scales. Prices for all four versions are pegged at $189.95.

Under Benchmade, HK Knives were offered at a discount relative to the rest of their line-up. It was a value brand that appealed to the cops who had to reach into their own pockets to pay for their on-duty blades. But, Hogue’s more premium pricing puts HK Knives less into the position of a value brand and more into the position of a Benchmade ‘me-too’.

Still, the new partnership is a natural fit. Hogue already produces grips and accessories for Heckler & Koch firearms and both brands are major players in the gun business with well-established channels of distribution.

Knife featured in image: HK Knives Exemplar