Shipping Paused Until 9/20/25 during move to new warehouse (will ship sooner if possible).
What to Expect From This Knife Blade
This Architect® AK 5.5 Blade is made in the USA and constructed out of tough and wear-resistant CPM 3V steel. It’s also put through the Peters’ Heat Treating full heat treat process to provide the 5.5-inch knife blade with a quality edge for the foreseeable future.
Unlike some other Architect Knives’ blades that come with special coatings, this CPM 3V fixed blade is left uncoated. This makes slicing and food preparation a cinch. It also ensures you won’t need to worry about its coating wearing off as you use it.
How You Can Use This CPM 3V Fixed Blade
This Architect® AK 5.5 Blade falls into what many knife enthusiasts would consider the “sweet spot” of what a general-purpose outdoor knife should be. The compact 5.5-inch knife blade provides unmatched versatility without sacrificing performance.
The near center-line drop point tip on this CPM 3V fixed blade turns it into the ideal option for piercing tasks as well as bushcraft tasks like drilling and skinning. It’s also capable of tackling other bushcraft tasks, such as batoning wood, and its high saber grind makes slicing simple. It even comes equipped with a “crusher” pommel to apply blunt force. It’s a 5/32″ thick blade that can tackle tough tasks while keeping it lightweight enough to carry around every day.
Count On Us for Custom Knives
Architect Knives is 100% committed to providing you with blades, handles, and other knife accessories with high-quality craftsmanship. Whether you’re shopping for a general-purpose 5.5-inch knife blade or a specialty blade on the bigger or smaller side, our family-owned company has you covered. Our products are all made in the USA and ship free nationwide. We also guarantee your satisfaction and promise to offer a replacement or refund if you aren’t satisfied. Start your knife project now by taking advantage of all our awesome customization options!
Dogswim –
I have an ESSE 6 with the TKC handles and it feels fantastic. So it was a no brainer to look at the TKC builder Ak5.5 in CPM 3V. I wanted a knife in the 5 inch range with a steel that had better edge retention and corrosion resistance than 1095. This knife fits this perfectly.The weight and balance is excellent. The feel of the knife in the hand superb. Perfect size for my hunting, skinning and camping needs. I highly recommend. — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Blair Smith –
I’ve been an avid outdoorsman and knife collector/user for all of my adult life. I’ve acquired an extensive collection of cutlery over the decades. I put together a field buddy 6.5 awhile back that I thought was the ultimate outdoor companion…. and then I got a 5.5 in 3V. The 5.5 might possibly be THE best all around knife I’ve ever owned. It’s noticeably thinner than the 6.5, which I thought I would not like but it feels like perfection in the hand. It’s a work horse for sure and 3V is turning into my favorite large-knife steel. Buy one and you’ll see what I mean. — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Rob Balser –
The 5.5 is an absolute winner, a truly stand-out design and its perfectly made. Feels great, cuts very good, not too thick behind the edge, not too thin at the spine. I held off for a long time thinking the stock was a bit thin and hoping for 3/16”. I guess that’d be great too, but its really good as it is. Buy it, you won’t regret it. — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Anthony Dufault –
The concept of allowing customers to create their own knives is genius. Moreover, the quality of the Architect knife exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend. — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Paolo Casartelli –
Very nice knife. Great balance and great feeling handling it. — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Chuck Barnes –
Nice knife and sheath. Could be a little sharper but will cut paper out of the box. Easy to install the handles with a great selection of styles. Happy to be able to get a left handed sheath with purchase. — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Peter Matthews –
This is my third Field Buddy, and the modular construction choices provide so many choices! — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Howard Powell –
I waited a long time to get the CPM3V version. The weight, balance, and feel of the knife is excellent. Perfect size for most any task. Fast service and easy ordering process. — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Mauricio Escobedo –
First saw this knife on a Review from Joe on YouTube Five minute knives some time ago and absolutely fell in Love with it. How ever when I went to purchase the knife it was sold out so I bought the Architect 6.5 through the knife builder instead. A few weeks ago I finally got a email the TKC saying it was back in stock so I immediately had to buy it only this time I purchased the knife and scales only and contacted Joe from Five minute Knives to make me a custom sheath. I highly recommend TKC not only for the Architect series but for all your knife purchases and if you are looking for a tricked out custom sheath reach out to Joe at Five Minute knives. Not only will you be buying American made but you be supporting American businesses. — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Robert Oswalt –
Used this knife for all my fire building chores, except striking the firerod, during a 2 week stay in the moutains. First off I favor 5″ – 6″ knifes for this application and have several to choose from, including an ESEE 5 and a Bark River Bravo Squad Leader in 3V. I think this one may have just become my favorite as it battoned almost as good as the ticker versions I have and shaved off kindling as good as my 3V Scandi (also in the 5″ – 6″ range). in fact I also had a 1095 Nessmuk with me that was pretty close in the shaving department but eventually fatigued my hand and it chipped during battoning. I kept it clean and after returning home and doing a deep cleaning you couldn’t tell it had been used. We have a fire pitr at home so this just became my goto knife for building fires. — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Milutin Marković –
When I was searching for perfect knife I find this one. I didn’t regret it! Perfect design, lenght, balance! — Originally posted at TheKnifeConnection
Kevin Graham (verified owner) –
Looking forward to making this my new bushcraft knife for the season.
K.B. Wong (verified owner) –
From blade to the beautiful Kydex sheath – 1st Class workmanship!
JP Maynard (verified owner) –
I love the knife. The website is awesome. You can build it the way you want and see it as you go. Fast shipping too. I ordered a knife from Survive knives 7 months ago and still haven’t received it.
Zachary Brown (verified owner) –
Incredible !
Steven Davis (verified owner) –
Blade is fantastic, I honestly am blown away at the value and the fit and finish are fantastic. Even grinds, good edge, and well balanced. 100% recomended.
Caleb Byler (verified owner) –
This is possibly the best all-around knife made for the money
Dylan Belfield (verified owner) –
Architect® AK 5.5 Blade Only – Uncoated CPM-3V Steel – High Saber Grind
Caleb Crabtree (verified owner) –
The knife got here fast, everything is great quality, the knife came sharp with an even grind, and the handles/sheath feel amazing! The knife is also very good at splitting wood and is a great weight.
Jay Rodriguez (verified owner) –
I purchased this after it was recommended by Aaron of Gideon’s Tactical. I have been wanting a 3V blade for some time; I have done little with this except to assault unsuspecting trees on neighborhood walks. I’m having second thots about the fire engine red sheath; I do own some Sharpies. I am pleased as paunch with this. To quote a worn out phrase, “It’s all good!” I feel that you should buy one even if you think that it’s superfluous. It won’t be.
Rich Belli (verified owner) –
Great knife. Arrived soon and highly recommended.
Steven Neighbors (verified owner) –
I like the 3V Steel on this knife. Perfect size. Worth the money for sure!
The Pinewood Viking (verified owner) –
This knife is excellent. You get to pick out your build, and you get the satisfaction of assembling it yourself so you don’t have to worry about it. The design is really solid, it’s wicked sharp and feels great in hand, and detail work or beastie it does a fantastic job. I carve, process food, and all around use this knife for everything I can, and it is a badass blade. The only downside is they sell out! Excellent service with any questions and a super stout built knife for the money with the backup of a guarantee I doubt I’ll ever use, but great to know it’s covered. I only fear loosing it or getting it stolen!
I’m giving it a few months of use and then I’ll be buying a duplicate one for a backup!! On the next drop!! Whooohoooo!! Awesome knife!!!
Jacob Canada (verified owner) –
Im 35, have had many many knives but none were perfect. This was nearly perfect out of the box, added a 90 degree spine and a more carving friendly secondary bevel and its perfect. Beautiful, functional, and a great value for the customization and premium materials. Just get it
S Gulati (verified owner) –
The angles, the tip and the edge everything was on point. The tip was in line with the spine of the blade.
If i have to pick just one knife for everything then this will be it. The Kydex sheath is one of the best in class, No Rattle at all, Snug fit easy to Deploy and can be adjusted for tension.(in comparison esee4 in the picture)