Okapi Knife Fold Olive Green SS in Box

The Okapi Folding Knife in Olive Green is the newest version of the slip-joint pocket knife that has carried the Okapi name across Southern Africa for generations. It keeps the simple, no-lock mechanism that made the original Okapi a bushveld staple, but swaps the old friction-forged carbon steel blade for a Bohler N690 stainless blade and the classic wire bail handle for a moulded, glass-filled nylon (GFN) grip in matte olive green. The result is a knife that looks and feels modern while still doing the one job Okapi knives have always done well: cutting things in the field without fuss.

Okapi is one of the oldest knife names still trading in South Africa, with roots back to Solingen, Germany, over a century ago, and manufacture now based in South Africa. This Olive Green model is part of the new colour range the brand launched at HuntEx 2025, sitting alongside Tactical Black, Okapi Orange, Forest Green and Wood-handled versions on the same blade and frame. Where the brand built its reputation on affordable carbon steel bush knives, this model targets buyers who want the same honest, pocketable shape in a blade that will not rust if it gets left damp in a tackle box or cooler bag overnight.

It ships in retail packaging (the SS in Box variant), making it a straightforward counter or gift item as well as a working tool, and its 105mm blade keeps it easy to carry day to day without the bulk of a full bush knife.

Key Features

• N690 stainless steel blade holds an edge through repeated use on rope, cardboard, biltong and camp food prep, and shrugs off the odd rinse in a river or cooler without staining.
• Glass-filled nylon handle in olive green resists cracking in heat and cold far better than the raw wood handles on older Okapi models, and gives a drier, more textured grip when wet hands are gripping it.
• Double-beveled edge geometry is ground at a 30-degree angle, giving a working edge that is easy to maintain with a simple pull-through or stone and that bites cleanly into fibrous material.
• Traditional slip-joint action means there is no lock to jam, seize or wear loose over years of use; the blade simply folds against spring tension, the same mechanism bush knives of this type have used for decades.
• Compact folded length of around 140mm drops into a trouser pocket, tackle bag or glovebox without printing or snagging, which is the main reason the shape has stayed in production so long.
• HRC 58-60 hardness puts the blade in a sensible middle ground: hard enough to hold an edge through a hunting season, soft enough to touch up with a basic sharpening stone rather than needing diamond media.

Technical Specifications

Materials and Construction

The blade is cut from Bohler N690, an Austrian stainless alloy known in the knife trade for a good balance of edge retention and corrosion resistance at a moderate price, which explains why it has become the standard steel across the whole new Okapi range rather than only the premium models. The handle scales are moulded GFN, a glass-fibre-reinforced nylon that is lighter than the wood or horn scales Okapi used historically and does not need periodic oiling to stay sound. The pivot and spring are a simple steel slip-joint assembly, the same basic layout used on this knife shape since it was first made in Solingen over a century ago, chosen for its low parts count and field-serviceability rather than for lock strength.

Care and Maintenance

Rinse the blade and pivot area after use around salt, blood or biltong brine and dry it before folding it away, even though N690 resists staining better than the carbon steel Okapis many South African buyers grew up with. A few drops of light oil on the pivot once or twice a season keeps the slip-joint action smooth. Touch up the edge on a fine stone or a simple pull-through sharpener at the factory 30-degree angle rather than re-profiling it, since N690 holds that geometry well without frequent attention.

Brand Background

Okapi traces its name to Solingen, Germany, a city long synonymous with cutlery manufacturing, before production shifted to South Africa where the brand built a loyal following among hunters, farmers and tradesmen who wanted an affordable, honest working knife. The original wire-bail carbon steel folder is still sold today, and this Olive Green stainless model is part of a 2025 range refresh that keeps the familiar silhouette while modernising the steel and handle material for buyers who want lower maintenance.

Who It is For

This knife suits buyers who want a light, pocketable cutting tool for camp chores, biltong and food prep, light bushcraft or general utility, and who prefer a knife that needs almost no maintenance beyond an occasional wipe-down. It is not built as a tactical or self-defence knife; the non-locking slip joint and modest blade length put it firmly in the traditional pocket-knife category rather than the hard-use folder category.

FAQ

• Does this knife lock open? No, it uses a traditional slip-joint spring with no lock; the blade is held open by spring tension in the same way classic Okapi knives have always worked.
• Will the stainless blade rust? N690 resists corrosion well in normal outdoor and kitchen use, but it is not stain-proof, so rinse and dry it after contact with salt, acids or blood.
• Is this the same as the old carbon steel Okapi? It shares the shape and name but uses a stainless N690 blade and a GFN handle rather than the carbon steel blade and wire bail of the classic model.
• What colours does this range come in? The same blade and frame are sold in Olive Green, Forest Green, Tactical Black, Okapi Orange and a stabilised Wood handle.