Jason Knight is back on Kickstarter today, seeking funding for the Hummingbird XL. This is a larger revision of his smash hit Hummingbird EDC fixed blade from the end of 2022.
In December of 2022, Jason Knight struck a chord in the knife community with the original Hummingbird. Within ten minutes of launching the Kickstarter for this sub-$100, EDC-oriented fixed blade, the project’s asking amount had been surpassed. To some, that came as no surprise: Knight is a major presence in the knife community, both for his custom work, and for his stint as a judge on the most visible knife-related show on TV, Forged in Fire. The idea of an accessible product with the Knight design ethos – particularly in a smaller, more manageable format – was catnip to cutlery cognoscenti.
That being said, Knight is known for big knives, so it made sense that a larger Hummingbird would come down the pike eventually. It’s still a hummingbird, not an albatross, however: with a 2.84-inch blade, the XL adds about .4 inches to the edge length of the original model. The extra length expands the capabilities without taking the new version too far astray from the original concept. The blade shape, the famous Knight shark fin clip point, remains, as does the blade steel choice, AUS-10A.
Not only has the handle been scaled up to match the bigger blade, but the profile has been subtly refined throughout. According to Knight, balance is a key element of good fixed blade design, and he feels that he got it right on the Hummingbird XL. “The Hummingbird XL is designed to feel lightweight and responsive, with the perfect center of gravity to ensure control and comfort during use,” he writes. The handle has also been given a visual overhaul, with the G-10 scales on the XL flaunting a faux bolster look. It probably goes without saying, but the Hummingbird XL, like its little brother, is a full tang knife, and it comes with a black injection-molded sheath.
The Hummingbird XL Kickstarter is live now – and, if history is any indicator, will have passed its funding goal by the time it took to read this article.
Knife in Featured Image: Knight Elements Hummingbird XL
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