Maxamet is an extremely hard high-speed powdered tool steel possessing properties that transcend conventional high-speed tool steels and approach those of cemented carbides - the ultra-hard materials used to machine other steels. When Carpenter developed this amazing alloy for the rollers in their steel mills, they sent samples to various companies in the knife industry to evaluate as a blade material. Although many tried, Spyderco was one of only a handful of companies to successfully develop the specialized methods necessary to machine, heat treat, and grind this demanding material to yield reliable, high-performance knife blades.

It is supported by Spyderco's patented Ball Bearing Lock high-strength lock mechanism that consists of a ball bearing nested within a durable textured polymer 'cage.' When the blade is opened, a spring-loaded steel plunger drives the ball bearing forward to wedge between a ramp on the blade and an 'anvil' in the handle's steel insert. Drawing the caged ball bearing to the rear releases the lock and allows the blade to close smoothly while keeping your fingers safely away from the sharp edge.

Supporting the lock is an ultra-lightweight handle injection molded from tough fiberglass-reinforced co-polymer (FRCP). It features Spyderco's distinctive Bi-Directional Texturing® pattern for a secure grip in all environmental conditions and a reversible wire clip that provides convenient left or right-side tip-up carry, making all aspects of the knife's carry and operation completely ambidextrous.