The Fux is loose Somewhere in Potsdam, a knife designer is probably smiling to himself right now. The Reate VK-FUX is the latest folder in the VK series that Reate builds together with Vulpex Knives, and you can tell that someone spent a very long time thinking about lines. That someone is Steven Kempa, the mind behind Vulpex Knives. He started designing knives on the side, as a hobby alongside his job as a police officer, until it grew into a brand of its own. His designs are created entirely digitally in Fusion 360, and Steven likes to draw his ideas from the animal kingdom. Together with Poikilo he built the VK-Zen, which won Best Folder and Best in Show at Blade Show Texas. We’ve known Steven for years and count him among the most exciting designers in the scene. And since Vulpex goes back to the Latin vulpes, meaning fox, it’s easy to see why the name FUX makes you grin for a second. Kempa is in good hands at Reate. The VK series already includes the VK-Tron, inspired by the light cycles from TRON, along with the VK-ANUB, VK-FROK and VK-CLU. The VK-FUX joins the line-up and brings Kempa’s signature style to a format made for everyday EDC use. The blade is Böhler Elmax, hardened to 60 HRC. The powder metallurgy steel resists rust, holds its edge for a long time and still sharpens up without any drama. The drop point shape with its easily controlled tip plays to its strengths with whatever the day throws at you, from parcel tape to cord. 8.4 cm of blade at 3.4 mm thick, 19.8 cm open, 11.4 cm closed, and the whole thing weighs 105 g. The handle is titanium, and a liner lock keeps the blade open. Depending on the version, the VK-FUX comes with a darkwash finish, in frosted satin or all in black, some with a coloured anodised titanium clip. That makes it appealing to two camps: EDC folks who want a titanium folder for every day, and collectors who already keep a gap on the shelf for Kempa designs.