The 2026 Skur: A Technical Overview | THE SHED KNIVES BLOG #109

January 8, 2026

Why the Skur Exists

Most knives stop the experience at the moment of purchase. You open the box, you look at the knife, and that’s where the story ends. That has never been acceptable to me.

“The Skur is a functional fixed blade knife that allows you to start the journey the moment you open it. The experience of the knife starts when you get the knife, where with other brands, the experience ends when you get the knife.”

That philosophy is the reason the Skur has consistently held the #1 and #2 best-selling positions at Shed Knives since 2020. People do not just buy the Skur. They carry it, use it, and build their field/personal confidence with it.

The 2026 Skur is not just a redesign. It is a refinement built from years of real-world feedback, field carry, manufacturing mistakes, and process corrections. From 2018 through 2025, Shed Knives experimented. In 2026, we implement.

This article is a technical overview, but more importantly, it is a buyer’s guide written by (me) the person who designed, milled, heat treated, assembled, and carries the knife himself.

What the Skur Is Designed to Do

The Skur is not a bushcraft-only knife, and it is not an EDC novelty. It sits in the overlap where most knives fail.

You can run the Skur on your belt all day. You can throw it in a jacket pocket. You can mount it to a pack. You can leave it in a vehicle. You can take it into the field and actually work with it.

This is an EDC with fixed-blade confidence.

Large blades are impressive but they are also unnecessary for daily life. You do not need to carry a machete to be prepared. You need a fixed blade that is compact, strong, sharp, and comfortable enough to actually stay on you.

That is why the Skur continues to dominate adoption among:

Campers who want reliability without bulk
Bushcrafters who work close to the blade
EDC users who want strength without inconvenience

The Skur earns its place by being carried, not displayed.

154CM Steel: A Proven Choice That Still Wins

The 2026 Skur is made from 154CM stainless steel, heat treated in-house to approximately 58 HRC.

154CM is not trendy. That is exactly why it works.

This steel was popularized in the custom knife world by Bob Loveless, and decades later it remains one of the most balanced steels ever produced for fixed blades. According to Crucible Industries’ published material data, 154CM offers an excellent balance of corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention for real-world use.

What matters more than the datasheet is performance.

154CM sharpens easily in the field. It responds well to stones. It does not require exotic abrasives. You do not need to baby it, and you do not need to fear chipping under normal use. That matters more than lab numbers when you are miles from a workbench.

If you know anything about me, you know I'd never choose a steel to impress steel nerds. I chose it because it works consistently for people who actually use knives.

Why Heat Treating Moved In-House

One of the most important changes to the Skur platform was not visible at all.

We brought heat treat fully in-house.

Previously, outsourcing heat treat added approximately three weeks to production timelines. Costs regularly exceeded $23 per knife, not including shipping, which often added another $160 round trip due to minimum carrier charges.

More importantly, outsourcing removed control & increased delays.

By moving heat treat into the Shed Knives shop, we eliminated delays, reduced per-unit cost, and gained full control over hardness consistency, temper cycles, and quality assurance. The Skur is now heat treated, tempered at 400°F, and has been verified externally to guarantee we are doing exactly what we tell our end users.

This change alone allowed us to tighten feedback loops and improve overall performance across the entire 2026 collection.

CNC Manufacturing and the 2026 Refinement Phase

Shed Knives is still a young company, and that matters.

From 2018 through 2024, we tested designs, materials, vendors, finishes, and processes. 2025 continued that experimentation. In 2026, the testing phase ends.

The Skur is now:

CNC milled entirely in-house
Contoured with fully 3D-machined G10 scales
Finished with an improved ceramic stonewash process
Cleaned using ultrasonic equipment post-finishing

This is not about competing with legacy brands on paper tolerances. Companies like Chris Reeve dominate that category and I have significant respect for folks who do that. This is about a startup that has compressed years of learning into a refined, repeatable process.

We are not guessing anymore.

Handle Geometry, G10, and Real Ergonomics

The Skur uses G10 scales milled in-house, mounted with black oxide Allen hardware. The scales are removable with a 3/32-inch Allen wrench, allowing serviceability without specialized tools.

What matters more than thickness numbers is how the knife locks into the hand.

The Skur is designed to be used close to the blade. The handle geometry supports controlled cutting, detail work, and extended use without hotspots. The fully contoured G10 provides grip without aggression, even when wet or cold.

This is not a handle designed to impress on Instagram. It is designed to disappear while working.

Kydex Sheath: Carry Is Not an Afterthought

Every 2026 Skur ships with a CNC-milled Kydex sheath using genuine Sekisui Kydex manufactured in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

Kydex matters because leather stretches and nylon fails. Kydex retains shape, resists moisture, and provides consistent retention through a positive detent.

The Skur sheath:

Clicks securely into place
Supports ambidextrous mounting
Uses a Discreet Carry Concepts Mod 4 HLR 1.75-inch clip

The sheath does not just carry the knife. It completes it. A good knife with a bad sheath becomes a bad knife.

How the Skur Compares to the Market

I am comfortable comparing the Skur directly to imported fixed blades and established American brands like TOPS and ESEE.

Imported knives often compete on price. The Skur competes on execution. Many American brands build excellent tools, but few offer this level of CNC refinement, in-house control, and modern carry integration at this size and price point.

The Skur is not built to undercut the market. It is built to outperform where it matters: carry, control, durability, and consistency.

Price, Availability, and Real Value

The MSRP for the 2026 Skur is $225 USD, with free U.S. shipping. In-stock knives ship within 24 hours, seven days a week.

We do not price knives to hit a number. We build the knife first. Price follows function.

Production is continuous throughout the year, with each annual variant discontinued at year’s end. When the 2026 Skur is gone, it is gone.

Why the Skur Would Be the One Knife to Own

If you had to choose one fixed blade this year between Shed Knives, TOPS, ESEE, Buck, Civivi, WE, Sencut, and other major brands, the Skur wins because of how it feels, how it functions, and how often it actually gets carried.

It is not the biggest knife. It is the most useful one.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Skur represents where Shed Knives is today: refined, focused, and prepared to scale. We are building capability, not chasing trends. When the market catches up, the infrastructure will already be there.

If you are going to pick one fixed blade this year for everyday carry and real-world use, the Skur is the standard.

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Explore the 2026 Skur here: https://shedknives.com/products/2026-skur

Know another outdoor enthusiast who may find value in this blog? Feel free to share the link of this blog with them so we can continue to educate & encourage our fellow outdoor & knife enthusiasts. Thank you for your support. - WJB

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About The Author:

W. Jack Billings - CEO & Founder, Shed Knives shedknives.com

Jack Billings is the 21 year old CEO and Founder of Shed Knives, a rising manufacturer of high-quality fixed blade bushcraft knives. With over 5 years of experience as a knife maker, he has developed a reputation for crafting durable, reliable knives that are designed for outdoor enthusiasts and bushcrafters alike. Jack started making knives at the age of 13 and has been refining his craft ever since.

In addition to his expertise in knife making, Jack has a High School Degree from POLYTECH High School, where he studied Automotive Technology and obtained his ASE Certification. He is also a content creator for Shed Knives and has reached the eyes of over 1,000,000 people on Shed Knives platforms across the world through his work.

When he's not working on knives, Jack enjoys exploring the outdoors and has a passion for bushcraft. He also has a passion for the automotive world and enjoys learning about new technologies and advancements. Additionally, he has a great interest in language and is studying Spanish, German, Russian, and Arabic.

Jack's personal mission is to constantly improve himself, his products, and his processes in order to stay ahead of the rapidly changing interests of the knife industry and to surpass the competition. He takes great pride in American manufacturing and is committed to contributing to the growth of the world knife industry through his work.

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