There are two types of knife guys: those who think all hollow-handle survival knives are junk, and those who know better. The former are likely those who only know the mass-produced, poorly made replicas from the 1980s. However, the latter are those who know the names associated with quality. One such name is Derek Rausch, with his Revenant MKII.
The Derek Rausch Revenant MKII
Some hollow-handle knife makers, like Randall Made Knives, Chris Reeve Knives, and the late Newt Martin, have risen to legendary status. A quality-made hollow handle knife will not fail you, and the strength of the design is apparent in hand. One maker out of South Africa is proving there is room at the top with his integral-design one-piece line.
Derek Rausch is a qualified instrument maker through the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. When someone is highly skilled, their work can be viewed as art, and Derek’s work sets the bar high for one-piece survival knife masterpieces.
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The Design
The Revenant MK II is created out of a single piece of Bohler K110 steel. For those unfamiliar with K110, it is a semi-stainless steel from Austria that is comparable to D2. The entire knife is treated in KAL-GARD black, and in my experience, this finish is incredibly tough and resists wear.
The blade measures 5.9 inches long, is 7/32-inch (.218-inch) thick, and is 1 inch wide. In terms of the hollow handle, the space is cavernous, given the handle’s dimensions and the general expectation of what could fit inside. The cap can hold premade tinder, and the body can hold a ferro rod along with a basic fishing kit.
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When hollow-handle knives are usually constructed, some of the strongest have the blade affixed with threading, a pin, and epoxy poured into the handle. This results in a strong juncture but limits space in the handle. Derek Rausch’s integral design gives the user even more room since the design is integral, and the hollow handle extends deep toward the guard.
The Revenant MK II features a single guard with a rounded top. Its self-guard is not too large to be obtrusive, and it allows the user to easily choke up on the handle’s body for fine work near the ricasso. It also serves as a “night reference,” indicating where the sharpened edge is when a round, symmetrical handle may make it difficult to determine otherwise.
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The knurling on the handle is clean and positive, providing a secure grip with wet hands. Its high saber grind with deep hollow grind makes the Revenant MK II a great slicer while maintaining strength.
Where Does the Revenant MKII Fit?
Overall, the Revenant MK II’s size falls between practical everyday carry and a large field knife. It would look right at home on a pilot’s survival vest, on an outdoorsman’s belt, or at the campsite for general field use.
In hand, the balance of the knife—without additional contents in the handle—is in the center of the recess between the knurling and the guard of the knife. It has a stout blade without being heavy, yet it is slightly heavier than knives of smaller size and category.
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Carrying the Revenant MKII
A sheath can be one of the most overlooked features of a knife. Derek Rausch’s sheath, on the contrary, commands attention. The design is sleek, rugged, and ambidextrous. Stitching around the perimeter of the sweat guard provides a stiff platform where the belt loop is added. The knife fits snug with no flop or movement, and the secondary strap adds extra security even though it doesn’t feel needed.
Little details make this sheath stand out. The grommet at the bottom of the sheath makes it easy to attach it to a MOLLE panel with paracord. Rausch protects the knurling on his handle by adding a small piece of leather to the back of the snap. The sheath carries well on the belt and looks perfectly paired with the design of the Revenant MK II.
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In the Field
The best way to evaluate a knife like the Revenant MKII is in the field on actual trips. During the course of my review, I took it on a few local hikes in the Western NC mountains. I threw it in my canoe bag on a trip to the nearby lakes for some fishing, and in my EDC bag for road trips to the range.
Likewise, it joined me in collecting materials for teaching bushcraft and survival courses, and in my checked bag while traveling back up to the northeast to teach land navigation. The knife was prioritized for use over my usual EDC and other tools. Spoiler alert, it didn’t fail me.
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To test the knife’s water resistance, I placed it in a clear plastic bin for 30 minutes. After the half-hour period, I checked for any moisture inside the handle. I found none. So, I let it sit longer and examined it hours later. I checked the edge, and there was no discoloration or signs of rust.
This freshwater test could have mixed results if replicated with water that is more turbid or brackish. The typical use of a knife shouldn’t involve prolonged immersion in water, so the occasional exposure won’t phase this one. One of the selling points of a hollow-handled survival knife is water resistance. This one passes the test with flying colors.
The Revenant MKII Hollow Handle
With any knife test, it is easy to focus on the blade. However, attention needs to be paid to the handle of the Revenant MKII. The handle’s round barrel is very filling and locks in place thanks to the knurling. To test the positive nature of the texture, I covered my hand in vegetable oil and went to task, slicing with it and snap-cutting.
There wasn’t a moment I felt the knife was not secure in my hand. Since this knife came during the offseason for hunting, I couldn’t use it while dressing an animal. However, the oil simulated the viscosity of blood, and I’m certain I wouldn’t lose my grip when it is eventually used in that role.
This knife falls between a smaller EDC and a larger field knife. It’s a nice compromise that works great for many purposes.
While hollow grinds aren’t supposed to be strong, I wanted to test the knife in camp tasks such as light battoning and slicing up ingredients for meal prep. I also wanted to push cut with this blade through different types of cordage. The edge held up great, and as expected, the wear to the blade could be found on the shoulders with the hollow grind section unscathed.
KAL-GARD is wildly tough, and even though I typically advocate using an ax for larger chopping, I know this knife could work with a baton in a pinch.
Starting a Fire
If there is one critique of this knife, it is the lack of a sharpened spine for ferro rod scraping. There is a community that prefers to use their knife as a scraper. There are also those who believe a dedicated compact scraper should be carried with any ferro rod.
I was able to fit a cut-down hacksaw blade in the handle. Likewise, I also experimented and replaced the small ferro rod with an Exotac nanoSPARK. It fit easily in the handle with room to spare.
The hollow in the cap easily held three TinderQuik tabs. Whether ferro rod and scraper or one-handed nanoSPARK, these fire-starting methods are superior to the wooden matches carried in the 80s era survival knives.
The Revenant MKII: A Hard-Use Hollow-Handle
I’ve been a fan of hollow-handled survival knives since the 1980s. I own many, and the quality spectrum varies. Derek Rausch is moving the flags, so to speak, and ushering in a new standard for what a survival knife can be in 2026.
This knife has a rugged appeal and simplicity that utilitarians will appreciate. There really are two types of people when it comes to hollow-handle knives. This one, and all of Rausch’s, will make more hollow-handle converts.
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