A knife that hides a pen in its handle — that’s the detail that makes the Knafs Doodler impossible to ignore. 

Not the blade, not the finish, but the fact that it doubles as a writing tool tucked inside a gentleman’s pocket knife.




The idea came from boredom. Ben Petersen, founder of Utah-based Knafs, spent the COVID lockdown doodling during Zoom calls, fidgeting with knives to stay sane. 

That mix of idle sketching and knife tinkering became the seed for a product that now feels like a clever answer to the monotony of office life. 

Funded in 14 minutes on Kickstarter, the Doodler proves everyday carry can be playful. Credit: New Atlas



A knife that isn’t just a knife, but also a pen — ready for notes, reminders, or a quick sketch when the meeting drags on.  

Three G10 scale colors, five swappable inlays — and open-source designs for anyone to 3D print. Credit: Knafs



The knife itself is slim. Folded, it measures just over four inches long and less than half an inch thick, weighing 2.4 ounces. 

That’s light enough to disappear into a shirt pocket. The blade is 2.9 inches of S35VN steel, shaped in a modified Wharncliffe style — a straight cutting edge with a subtle curve at the spine. 

It opens three ways: a nail nick for slow control, a rear flipper tab for speed, and a jimped front flipper near the hinge. 

Ben Petersen sketches through lockdown boredom, and the doodles become steel and ink. Credit: New Atlas



However it’s deployed, a liner lock keeps the blade secure.  

But the real trick is hidden in the handle. Near the rounded tip sits a micro ballpoint pen cartridge, slim enough to vanish until needed. 

A small ridge lets you pull it free, revealing a standalone pen. 

It’s not a multitool in the traditional sense — no screwdrivers or bottle openers here — but it’s dual-purpose in a way that feels practical. 

A knife for cutting, a pen for writing, both in one discreet package.  

Customization is part of the appeal. The Doodler comes in three G10 scale colors, with five interchangeable inlays. 

Each inlay is held by two screws and can be swapped easily. 

Knafs even made the inlay designs open source, encouraging owners to 3D print their own. 

That openness reflects the company’s ethos: a small team experimenting, inviting the community to play along.  

The launch followed a familiar path for Knafs — Kickstarter. 

The campaign went live at $129 pledge levels and hit its funding goal in just 14 minutes. 

Manufacturing is handled by Kizer, a well-known Chinese OEM, with deliveries planned for October. 

For a niche knife brand, that speed of support says something about the appetite for tools that blend utility with personality.  

There are compromises. The pocket clip is fixed to one side, leaving left-handed users out. 

And while the knife is pitched as a “gentleman’s knife for the office,” not every workplace welcomes blades, no matter how discreet. 

Still, the Doodler isn’t trying to be universal. It’s designed for those who appreciate the ritual of carrying a knife, who like the idea of a tool that’s both functional and a little playful.  

What lingers is the thought behind it. A knife that hides a pen isn’t about survival or heavy-duty work. 

It’s about the small, everyday moments — jotting down a note, sketching an idea, cutting open a package. 

It’s a reminder that even in the most ordinary settings, design can slip in a touch of surprise. 

And maybe that’s the real appeal: a tool that makes the routine feel just a little less routine.  


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