This Update to a Classic Pocket Knife from the CIA’s Former Knifemaker Boasts a Premium Blade Material

Ah, 1988. Coming to America was on the big screen, “Sweet Child o’ Mine” was on the radio, and Santa Fe-based knifemaker Bob Terzuola was just hitting his stride. Having already crafted fixed blades for CIA operatives overseas and introduced the concept of the “tactical knife” with the ATCF (Advanced Technology Combat Folder), Terzuola unveiled a heavy-duty pocket knife for everyday use.

Dubbed the TTF-2 Marine/Rigging Folder, it featured a sturdy sheepsfoot blade, a titanium handle and a no-nonsense prescription: “recommended for yachtsmen, riggers, packers, truckers, and anyone who requires a quality cutting tool.”

Fast forward 36 years, and the folks at Tactile Knife Co. are bringing it back, baby. They got hold of a functional original and got Terzuola himself involved, consulting on the design with twin objectives: honoring the original and updating it for optimal EDC in 2024. The result? The eye-popping new Mariner 2.

Tactile Knife Co. Mariner 2

So, how does the new iteration compare to the original? There are a number of key similarities, as well as a few big differences.

For starters, Tactile’s crew channeled the original’s aesthetic, returning to the classic sheepsfoot shape for the blade. However, they scaled its length down to 2.98 inches, just short enough to pass muster in areas with laws requiring blades to be less than 3 inches.