A total upgrade. Built by hand. Serialized from day one.

Video: Instagram

The Phantom Pain is Dean's most ambitious design to date from Severed Metal Works in Northern Alabama. The harpoon back and long false edge on top of the blade give it an aggressive profile that backs up the geometry with real cutting intent. No choil. Instead, a deep finger well and a trigger behind the index finger that puts your hand exactly where it needs to be, every time, without thinking about it. Dean describes this as a "total upgrade over the Squire," and the geometry makes that case clearly.

80CrV2 high carbon steel gives the Phantom Pain a tough, capable blade that takes and holds a sharp edge and handles hard use without drama.

These are not production knives. They are made by hand in a small Alabama shop, individually serialized, and released in limited numbers. Each one is a handmade object from a maker who is actively growing his craft.

Ships set up for scout carry. An Ulticlip XL is included for additional carry configuration options. Kydex sheath and a preinstalled lanyard are included.

Specifications

• Overall Length: 7.5"
• Blade Length: ~3.7"
• Blade Steel: 80CrV2 High Carbon Steel
• Blade Style: Harpoon Back with Long False Edge
• Grip Feature: Deep Finger Well with Trigger Behind Index Finger
• Handle: Varies by serial number
• Sheath: Kydex, set up for scout carry
• Carry Clip: Ulticlip XL included
• Lanyard: Preinstalled
• Serialized: Yes, individually
• Country of Origin: Made in USA (Northern Alabama)

The Phantom Pain Design

The geometry on the Phantom Pain is intentional at every point.

• Harpoon back creates a blade silhouette with a reinforced tip and strong upper geometry
• Long false edge gives you reach and slicing geometry along the spine
• No choil, replaced by a deep finger well that positions the hand naturally
• Trigger behind the index finger locks your grip in place without requiring you to think about it

This is not a knife that asks you to adapt to it. It fits the hand and stays there.

80CrV2 High Carbon Steel

• Takes a keen edge and holds it through hard use
• Excellent toughness, handles impact and demanding tasks without chipping
• Easy to sharpen in the field with basic tools

One note: 80CrV2 is a carbon steel, not stainless. Wipe the blade dry after use and apply a light oil when storing. The performance is worth the maintenance.

Handmade in Northern Alabama

Every Phantom Pain is made start to finish in Dean's small Alabama shop using stock removal, controlled heat treatment, and hand finishing. These are not production runs. They are individual knives, each serialized, each slightly its own object, backed by the same lifetime benefits as every Severed Metal Works knife.

Lifetime Blacksmith Benefits

Every Severed Metal Works knife includes lifetime repair and sharpening coverage. Customers cover shipping to and from the shop. For service or questions, Dean can be reached directly at [email protected].

Why You'll Want It

The Phantom Pain is what happens when a maker takes everything he learned from his first design and builds the knife he actually wanted to make. The geometry is deliberate, the steel is proven, and the carry setup is ready out of the box. You are buying a hand-serialized knife from an American maker who is getting better with every batch.

Supporting Dean means supporting American knifemaking at the shop level, where it starts.