The Mudbug ON SALE 7/16 @ 7PM CENTRAL TIME

THE MUDBUG RETURNS

The next chapter in a story that began over a decade ago begins now.

RELEASE INFORMATION

The Mudbug will go live Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 PM Central Time. Until then, these knives will be visible on the website, but cannot be added to your cart. Inventory will become available automatically once the sale begins.

PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING

Before you place your order, we’d like to mention a few things about this release.

Two Versions: This release includes two distinct versions of the Mudbug. Please be sure to select the one you want, as they use different construction methods and cannot be converted after purchase.

• Classic: Traditional configuration with a flared stainless lanyard tube. Starting at $250.

• Clip Version: Features a USA-made, reversible titanium pocket clip. Starting at $289.95.

Handle Material Options

For this release, the Mudbug is available in Natural, OD Green, and Dark Maroon Linen Micarta. Each handle material is offered in both the Classic and Clip Version, subject to availability.

Shipping: Due to the overwhelming interest surrounding the return of the Mudbug, please allow 5–7 business days for your order to ship.

Limited Availability: The Smith & Sons workforce is still just three pairs of hands. While we’ve been building these around the clock, we refuse to sacrifice quality simply to produce one more knife. Quantities for this release are limited, and we do expect them to sell quickly.

That said, this is not a one-time project. The Mudbug is back for the long haul. If you’re unable to secure one during this release, don’t panic. We’re already planning the next batch and look forward to getting one into your hands soon.

Choose Your Version Carefully: The Classic and Clip versions are two distinct models with different construction methods. The pocket clip cannot be added to a Classic model later, and the Classic lanyard tube cannot be installed on the Clip Version after the fact. Please choose accordingly.

Please Order Carefully: During releases like this, inventory is extremely limited. Because of that, we ask that you purchase only the knife you intend to keep. We will not be able to accommodate order changes, swaps, or cancellations once orders are placed.

Clip Version: The pocket clip is attached using a structural screw. If you choose to remove the clip, that screw must remain installed to maintain the knife’s construction.

Leather Pancake Sheath: Our handmade leather pancake sheath has been a classic way to carry the Mudbug since its inception. We recommend pairing it with the Classic model or removing the clip from the Clip Version for the best overall experience. Save $10 when bundling with a new Mudbug!

Phone Orders: During high-traffic releases, we are unable to process orders or make changes by telephone. This helps us avoid inventory discrepancies and ensures every available knife is accurately accounted for.

THE STORY

In many ways, the story of the Mudbug began before the Mudbug itself.

Custom knife making had been a family hobby of ours since the late 1990s. In 2011, we opened Smith & Sons Knife Company as a small brick-and-mortar knife store, selling quality production knives made by other brands while also offering our own custom knives and handmade leather goods.

Almost immediately, we noticed a pattern. Customers came through the door asking for the same knife over and over again: A large sodbuster pattern. A lockback. Quality steel. Made well. The problem was, very few companies were building that knife. Those that did often produced them in very small numbers or ended up disappearing altogether.

Eventually, we stopped trying to help people find one. Instead, we decided we’d make it happen ourselves…one way or another.

That decision became the Mudbug. 

While our storefront is a thing of the past, one thing has never changed: we’re still the same family, building knives with the same hands and the same commitment to quality that started this journey. When the first Mudbug was introduced in 2014, our goal wasn’t simply to bring another traditional pocketknife to market. Our goal was to offer the knife we’d spent years wishing existed.

A HOMECOMING

From the very beginning, our vision has always been bigger than simply producing another run. The Mudbug has evolved over the years, but one thing has never changed: our desire to build the very best version of this knife that we possibly can.

This next generation represents another major step toward that goal.

The previous generation of Mudbugs were built and finished in-house by our knifemakers, with all fitting, assembly, finishing, sharpening, and quality control performed here in Louisiana, while many of the precision components were manufactured in Europe.

For this new generation, we took a huge swing. Those components have come home.

Working alongside our longtime manufacturing partner, White River Knife & Tool, we’ve successfully transitioned that portion of production to the United States while bringing more of the manufacturing process under our own roof than ever before. That transition has taken years of planning, development, testing, and countless hours behind the scenes. It hasn’t been easy, but we believe it has been well worth the effort.

THE NEXT GENERATION

This isn’t a refresh or a facelift.

This is the culmination of more than a decade of ideas, lessons learned, customer feedback, and an unwavering commitment to getting it right. Every detail of this knife has been carefully reconsidered. Not to reinvent the Mudbug. To become the Mudbug we’ve always wanted to build.

MAGNACUT

For years we’ve been asked the same question: “Will you ever build the Mudbug in Magnacut?” The answer is finally yes.

We’ve never been a company that chases the latest steel simply because it’s popular. If we decide to make a change, it’s because we genuinely believe it makes for a better knife. Magnacut is the first steel we’ve encountered in a long time that truly lives up to its reputation.

Outstanding edge retention. Excellent corrosion resistance. Exceptional toughness. If there was ever a knife that deserved Magnacut, it was the Mudbug.

BUILT TO FEEL TRADITIONAL

One of our goals has always been to preserve everything people love about traditional pocketknives while quietly improving the details that matter. The relieved liners, hand-profiled satin spine, and flush fit in both the open and closed positions all contribute to an experience that’s unmistakably traditional. Open the blade and you’ll feel the smooth, deliberate action, followed by the unmistakable click of a lockback that locks up like Fort Knox.

It’s everything we love about traditional pocketknives, carefully blended with modern materials and construction.

ERGONOMICS

Beneath the familiar Mudbug silhouette, nearly everything has changed.

The liners are thinner. The handles have been completely redesigned. Yet somehow, it still feels unmistakably like a Mudbug.

The overall package returns to the slim, pocket-friendly feel that originally made the Mudbug such a favorite while incorporating everything we’ve learned over the years.

The lightly media-blasted linen Micarta provides a smooth, velvety feel with plenty of grip, while the subtle contour toward the rear of the handle creates a natural, secure purchase without introducing hot spots.

CLASSIC OR CLIP

For the first time ever, the Mudbug is available in two distinct configurations.

The Classic stays true to the original with a flared stainless lanyard tube.

The Clip Version introduces a reversible, USA-made titanium pocket clip by Lynch Northwest. Backed by Lynch’s outstanding lifetime guarantee, the clip is serviced directly by Lynch should it ever become bent or damaged during normal use.  Fully reversible for both right- and left-hand carry, it gives the Mudbug an entirely new carry option while preserving the clean lines that have always defined the design.

HANDMADE LEATHER

Our optional leather pancake sheath has accompanied the Mudbug since the very beginning. Every sheath is handmade in-house from premium leather and has become one of our most popular carry options, with thousands of satisfied customers over the years. Whether you prefer carrying on your belt or simply want another way to enjoy your Mudbug, it’s a combination we continue to stand behind.