Boker’s Kiboku Is One Knife With Five People

Boker (Böker) has just released five new versions of Lucas Burnley’s Kiboku. All five share the same RWL-34 blade. What changes is the handle, from bright orange G10 to Sonoran desert ironwood. The five types are Bocote, G10 Orange, Richlite Red Topo, Desert Iron Wood, and Richlite Black Rock Pattern. They are made in Boker’s Solingen workshop in Germany, which has been making knives since 1869. The Kiboku is the brand’s latest knife developed by Burnley, an Oregon-based knife maker.

If you are familiar with Boker’s other Burnley knives (Kihon, Kwaiken, or BFF Packlite), the Kiboku will feel familiar yet refined. Böker calls it “artistically inspired,” but the shape leans more towards an everyday, camping, or bushcraft pocket knife than anything aggressive. The brand voice appears on all different product pages: “Perfection is an illusion that begins with small details and disappears with many nuances.”

In plain words, it’s a knife built for balance and feel first, specs second.

What all Kiboko have in common

Each Kiboku starts with the same parts. The blade is a full draw area made of RWL-34, a stainless steel made by Damasteel, a Swedish company. Böker hardens it to 62 HRC ± 1. That gives you a long-lasting edge, good corrosion resistance, and a steel that’s easy to sharpen at home.

Burnley adds a two-tone finish, a swedge (a curved edge along the spine), and a throw (small holes) for your thumb. The Kydex sheath comes in a box, sized to clip onto a belt or slip into a pocket. The handle scales are hinged, so they are easy to clean or replace. That last part is what Böker is pushing the hardest: Kiboku is designed to be used and owned, not displayed on a shelf.

So why introduce five versions instead of one or two? Because the only real change between them is the handle, and that’s the whole idea.

The Five Types

Kiboko Bocote. A very traditional choice. Bocote is a hardwood from Mexico and Central America. It has a striped, zebra-like grain and a warm gold tone that gets richer with use. Böker calls it “hard, tough, unique.” Choose this one if you want the Kiboku to feel more like a custom knife than a factory one.

PriceCost: $309
Where to Buy: Boker

Kiboko G10 Orange. Log in ready to work. The G10 handle is bright orange and has a non-slip pyramid. Böker pitches it as the best combination of grip, visibility, and durability. Put it in leaves, snow, or a drop box and you can still see it. If you plan to use Kiboku outdoors, this is the one to buy.

PriceCost: $299
Where to Buy: Boker

Kiboku Richlite Red Topo. A very photogenic version. Richlite is a composite made from FSC certified or recycled paper soaked in resin. Böker also uses it in the Daily Knives AK1. Here it is cut with a 3D map style texture and dyed deep red. It’s the version that’s most likely to take over your Instagram feed. That’s fitting, as Böker first teased the show on Instagram.

PriceCost: $309
Where to Buy: Boker

Kiboku Desert Iron Wood. Sonoran desert ironwood is one of the densest, heaviest woods in the world. The grain swings, and no two pieces look the same. Custom knife makers have used it for years, so seeing it in a production knife under €200 is rare. If Bocote is an everyday wood choice, this is a collector’s blueprint.

Price: €199.95 (About $200)
Where to Buy: Boker

Kiboko Richlite Black Rock pattern. Stealth pick. Black Richlite is paired with a rock-style 3D texture. The result looks quiet in low light but feels good in the hand. Böker calls Richlite lightweight and moisture-resistant, suitable for cleaning, in all conditions Black Rock Pattern.

PriceCost: $309
Where to Buy: Boker

Prices start from €184.95 for the G10 Orange up to €199.95 for the Steel Desert. The three Richlite and Bocote models all sit at €189.95. American shoppers can find similar models at Knife Center for around $254 to $280. That keeps the whole family under €200 (and under $300). It puts Kiboku in a competitive position. It costs more than a fixed budget bullet, but less than a custom shop that uses the same RWL-34 steel and rare woods.

Why this list is important

Two things stand out about Boker’s handling of Kiboku.

First, the basic knife is purposefully simple. The perfect drop-point tang on the RWL-34 with Kydex sheath is a recipe that knife makers have worked on for years. What Burnley has done is clean up the little details, like swedge and jimping. The result comes from Solingen with a fit and finish you usually only get from a custom maker.

The second is the modular hosting system. All variants use the same hardware and screw thickness scales, so the Kiboku is one knife with five personalities. As far as scales go, the design matches other Böker handle families such as the Daily Knives AK1 and BFF Packlite. Both have many aftermarket options and first-party scales.

For Gadgeteer readers, the choice is easy. Want to do everything outdoors? Select G10 Orange. Looking for a quiet EDC that looks good on a desk or in a leather case? Go to Bocote or Desert Iron Wood. Looking for Kiboku to stop people mid-conversation? Richlite Red Topo is hard to miss.

The full Kiboku series is available at Böker’s German store now. The Bocote variant is listed for shipment from June 19, 2026.