Work Sharp RMX Convertible Knife Review

This week, Work Sharp, which has dominated the knife sharpener market in recent years, is releasing its own line of knives. Unlike other non-knife brands that tiptoed into knives, this move was bound to happen. But the way that Work Sharp went about it was unlike anything I’d seen before.

Set to launch on June 6 at Blade Show in Atlanta, Work Sharp’s RMX line of knives has been the industry’s worst-kept secret since April. While Work Sharp did a solid job of trying to keep this innovative line under wraps, the internet wasn’t having it. There were so many glimpses and teases peppering social media that I think Work Sharp eventually opened the proverbial floodgates to let people share the news.

So, what’s so exciting about the RMX lineup? For starters, they look cool and they’re made of desirable, but less common, materials.

But the bigger draw here is that all six knives can convert from manual knives to automatics, right out of the box. Work Sharp provides the bits and pieces to automate each model of the RMX series, with no strings attached — and it’s very easy to do.

But that begs the question: Where does it land when it comes to legality? Don’t worry, I got the answer direct from Work Sharp, along with a month-long test.

In short: Whether you’re looking for a reliable EDC knife or just appreciate the latest newness, the Work Sharp RMX knives check off a lot of satisfying boxes. The ability to convert from manual to automatic opening has a lot of appeal, but the reliability and durability of it is what’s going to keep this knife in your pocket for years to come. It remains technically legal, but the owner assumes a lot of responsibility to not run afoul of John Law.

Work Sharp RMX Review

Work Sharp sent me both the full-sized reverse tanto (WSFK01-102) and compact drop point (WSFK02-201) models to test. For this review, I focus on the full-sized reverse tanto variant. But I will add, if you like what you see, don’t sleep on the compact versions.

Design & Features

The full-size reverse tanto RMX (call it “Remix”) is a lightweight, durable, convertible folding knife. It has a black Cerakote magnesium handle and CPM-3V bead-blasted, reverse tanto blade. CPM-3V is a powdered tool steel that is known for excelling in toughness and wear resistance. This high-strength steel has both good edge retention and corrosion resistance.

Magnesium isn’t a handle material that I see very widespread in the production knife world. However, it sits between aluminum and titanium in terms of strength and durability versus weight. It’s a great choice for these knives, and helps keep the hand grip quality up and the weight under 3 ounces.

What makes the RMX interesting and innovative is the ability to change it from a manual knife to an automatic knife. This is done by swapping out the pivot and adding in a torsion spring. In automatic mode, users can fine-tune the spring to their liking. Everything you need to make the conversion is included with each knife.

First Impressions

When I first saw Work Sharp was launching its first line of knives, I had no idea it was going to have the ability to convert from manual to automatic. As info about this key feature and the knives’ materials leaked out, I became more curious.

I became even more intrigued when I saw that Work Sharp was going with less common steels, like CPM 3V and M390. Both of these steels are pioneers in the modern knife world that have taken a back seat to steel like S35VN and MagnaCut, but for no other reason than good marketing.

CPM 3V could take your finger off before you knew you even cut yourself (especially when sharpened by a Work Sharp). Here, with a flat grind and in reverse tanto form, it’s aggressive. I like that.

The RMX relies entirely on a button lock and a flick of your wrist to open in manual mode. Considering how light the knife is, make sure to hold on the first few times you open the knife up.

That said, it will take you a couple of times to get used to flipping it open sufficiently. You feel like you need to put a little more oomph into it to get the blade past some imaginary bump. To get over that, make sure you’re pressing the button all the way down. It’s designed to keep the blade locked otherwise.

Converting to Automatic

I am a fan of automatic knives, though they’re not my first choice when it comes to picking out my next favorite EDC. However, when it came to the RMX, I couldn’t wait to convert it over from manual. This is new territory for the knife world.

Still, I held off for a week before I made the conversion.

The whole process is easy enough if you follow the directions. The key is to pay attention to the orientation of the automatic pivot, which is marked out for you, and keep pressure on both sides of the pivot while tightening it down. The first time I did it, it took 5 minutes. On the smaller drop point RMX (WSFK02-201) Work Sharp sent, it took half that time.

Once you get everything installed, you really want to pay attention to how you’re tightening the pivot. If you send the bolt home and make it as tight as you can, the knife won’t open or close.

Conversely, if you leave the pivot too loose, the blade will wobble. Trust me when I tell you, the sweet spot is there!

Is it Legal?

If you’re anxious for this answer, yes — it is legal to buy any of the RMX knives. However, you are still under the scrutiny of the law in the state where you plan on carrying yours.

In the words of Work Sharp’s Director of Marketing, Josh Warren, “When you buy one of the RMX knives from Worksharptools.com, you will have to acknowledge that you are taking responsibility for knowing the knife laws that apply to you. We will ship the knives, but the purchaser is taking responsibility.

“We understand that knife laws vary depending on where a consumer resides, so while we will ship product to all 50 states, ultimately the consumer needs to be responsible for understanding their knife laws for how they will choose to carry the knife. In its manual form, the RMX should be legal in all 50 states.”

But if you are unsure, you have the option to keep the knife in manual mode. You can also check out Legal Blade 3.0 by Knife Rights and Blade HQ. Under the well-informed and educated mind of Doug Ritter, Knife Rights is fighting for our knife rights and updating its information in real time.

In the Field

With over a month to see what the RMX was all about, I can honestly say that these knives are workhorses. Whether you’re in manual or automatic, you have a lightweight knife that’s up for heavy-duty tasks. But I do mean knife-related, heavy-duty tasks. You don’t want to pry with the RMX or use it as a screw driver. 

Though now that you’ve taken it apart and gotten all zen with it, you probably feel like your soul is connected to it. It’s not. Don’t be a jerk to this knife — or any knife.

I loved carrying the RMX around in my back pocket because it didn’t feel like it was there. Once I took it out, the balance between the knife’s weight and size, coupled with its generous choil and overall ergonomics, made it a joy to use. Granted, a lanyard hole would have been nice (I like them on all of my deep carry knives for easier retrieval). 

Overall, I spent a week using the RMX in manual mode and a little over three in automatic mode. If I am being honest, the knife is easier to deploy as an automatic knife. It’s also a very pleasant deployment, which is matched by the lightness of the knife.

Brands like Benchmade and Pro-Tech put in wicked strong springs that make you feel like the knife is going to fly out of your hand. Between the two settings of spring tension, neither of them compromises your confidence in opening the knife.

As a little bonus, Work Sharp supplies you with replacement gaskets, bearings, and springs to service your RMX in both modes. I think that’s pretty awesome.

Conclusion: Who’s It For?

Overall, the Work Sharp RMX is the “gateway drug” of knives. You’re buying a manual knife with the option to convert it to an automatic. The chances of anyone keeping these knives in manual mode are slim, but I won’t say it’s none.

I enjoyed using the RMX in both configurations. However, seeing how silky smooth the opening operation of the knife is when it’s in auto-mode, it’s worth the experience.

In terms of performance, nothing will change in the way you hold the knife or the way the CPM-3V steel performs between being in manual and converting it to automatic. Automatic knives, though becoming more socially acceptable, give a leading edge in combat situations.

As an EDC knife, it’s more of a “cool” factor. I will say, aside from a crossbar-style lock, button locks found on automatics are incredibly reliable. Here on the RMX, you get that reliability in both modes.

I will end with this: The RMX is not a gimmick. This knife performs well in both modes. To see a knife of this ilk being what Work Sharp enters the knife market with leads me to believe that, like its sharpeners, everything we see from the brand will be innovative moving forward.

I am glad that the RMX met my expectations, even though this is Work Sharp’s first venture into knives. I think that once people get over the ability to convert the knife to an automatic, they’ll benefit from its durable build and scary-sharp blade steel.