Torpen

Jérôme Hovaere and Torpen

Jérôme Hovaere is a French knifemaker based in Brittany. He has been making knives since 2009 under the name Torpen — sometimes written Torpen Knives — starting with one-off custom pieces and moving on to small batches.

He did not come to knives through a cutlery school. He worked as a farmhand, a roofer and then as a heat-treatment technician in the aerospace industry, and reached knifemaking through materials and the workshop. That technical background shows in his work: careful heat treatments, simple and visible mechanisms, and designs that always start from use.

His documented custom pieces under the Torpen name include the Sépia, the Warthog, the Sika, the IKE and the Nesmuk, in titanium, G10, micarta or carbon fibre, with steels such as N690 or damascus. American knifemaking is his main source of inspiration, translated into a vocabulary of his own.

From custom pieces to production runs

One of the distinctive aspects of Jérôme Hovaere's work is his ability to bring the same design to different scales of production.

The Warthog and the IKE first existed as custom pieces or very small batches signed Torpen Knives. The MaxKnives editions take over their design and mechanism in production materials, in numbered runs.

The division of roles is the same for every model: designed by Jérôme Hovaere, released by MaxKnives. Each first series — the First Run — is limited and numbered.

At MaxKnives, the collaboration is now organised around four concepts, from a keyring knife to a large integral folder.

μSepia: the one-piece keyring knife

The μSepia is the smallest knife of the collaboration, and probably the most radical.

Blade and handle are cut from a single block of N690 stainless steel: a one-piece construction measuring 100 mm open and weighing around forty grams, with a 35 mm sheepfoot blade held by a slipjoint.

Its name comes from the cuttlefish — sepia — whose silhouette is echoed by the three holes drilled through the body, which also lighten the piece. The original design, inspired by Streamline styling, was intended for two uses: keyring or money clip.

It is available in two finishes, black (MKH01B) and silver (MKH01S).

Warthog: the compact titanium folder

The Warthog brings the Torpen signature to a compact folding knife: 100 mm closed, 176 mm open.

Its black N690 steel blade measures 77 mm with a thickness of 3 mm; the handle is titanium, either natural (MKH02S) or anodised in a light brown tone (MKH02B).

Its technical signature is the integral-spring back lock specific to Torpen: the spring is not a separate part but forms one piece with the mechanism, and the knife opens and closes with one hand.

Every Warthog comes with a cordura sheath and belongs to a numbered First Run edition of 300 pieces.

Persistent: the large liner-lock folder

The Persistent is the longest format of the collaboration: 201 mm open, 111 mm closed, for 103 grams.

Its satin-finished straight-back blade in N690 steel measures 89 mm with a thickness of 3 mm. The liners are dressed in G10, black (MKH03N) or brown (MKH03M): same dimensions, same design, only the handle colour changes.

The lock is a liner lock, a proven mechanism that keeps the knife easy to understand and to maintain. The Persistent is offered as a numbered First Run edition of 300 pieces.

IKE: the screwless titanium integral, tool-free takedown

The IKE is the most ambitious piece of the collaboration.

Its body is an integral titanium frame with a stone-washed finish and not a single screw: nothing interrupts the surface of the handle, neither screw heads nor added scales. This construction allows tool-free disassembly and reassembly, to clean the inside of the handle and put the knife back in working order.

The CPM154 steel blade measures 92 mm with a thickness of 4.3 mm, the thickest of the collaboration; flipper opening, frame lock, pocket clip. Open, the IKE measures 208 mm.

The first run is limited to 120 numbered pieces, the shortest run of the series. Twenty of them carry an anodised slide with blue reflections.

An identity born from function

Looking across the four families reveals several recurring ideas.

The first is the visible mechanism. Slipjoint, back lock, liner lock, frame lock: every model lets you understand how it opens, how it locks and how it is maintained.

The second is scale. From the 100 mm μSepia to the 208 mm IKE, the design keeps the same economy of means: taut lines, few parts, nothing that serves no purpose.

Finally, two materials recur from one model to the next: titanium for the handles and N690 steel for the blades, the IKE being the exception with its CPM154. The Torpen signature lies less in a recipe than in this way of bringing together a function, a mechanism and a material.

Which Torpen x MaxKnives model should you choose?

The four families serve different purposes.

μSepia
A knife that disappears on a keyring or as a money clip: one-piece N690, 100 mm, slipjoint.

Warthog
A compact titanium folder, 100 mm closed, with the back lock specific to Torpen.

Persistent
A larger folder, 201 mm open, with G10 scales and a liner lock.

IKE
The most accomplished piece of the collaboration: screwless titanium integral, CPM154 blade, tool-free takedown.

Caring for Torpen x MaxKnives knives

Blades in N690 stainless steel and CPM154 require straightforward regular maintenance. Clean the blade after use and dry it thoroughly, particularly after contact with acidic food or salty moisture, and store the knife dry.

A drop of light oil on the pivot keeps the action smooth, whether it is a back lock, a liner lock or a frame lock; wipe off the excess so that dust does not stick to it.

Titanium does not rust: clean water and a soft cloth are enough. On anodised versions, avoid any abrasive product that would dull the colour. G10 can be cleaned with a damp cloth, without solvents.

The IKE can be taken apart and reassembled by hand, without tools: clean the inside of the handle, then reassemble without forcing. Where a knife is supplied with a cordura sheath, let the sheath dry before storing the knife in it.

See our knife cleaning, maintenance and sharpening guides for more information.

Purchase, possession, carry and transport

The rules that apply to a knife do not depend solely on its size or appearance.

Being legally able to buy and own a product does not automatically mean that it can be carried or transported without restriction.

Before travelling with a knife, please consult our guide to knife purchase, possession, carry and transport in France, and check the rules applicable in your destination country.

Frequently asked questions

Who is behind Torpen?
Torpen — or Torpen Knives — is the creative name of Jérôme Hovaere, a French knifemaker based in Brittany who has been making custom knives and small batches since 2009.

What is the IKE?
An integral titanium folder designed by Jérôme Hovaere: not a single screw on the whole knife, a 92 mm CPM154 blade, a flipper and a frame lock. It can be taken apart and reassembled by hand, without tools.

What does "First Run" mean?
It is the first numbered series of a model: 300 pieces for the Warthog and the Persistent, 120 for the IKE, including 20 with an anodised slide. Each piece carries its number.

What is the difference between the Warthog and the Persistent?
The Warthog is a compact folder measuring 100 mm closed, with a titanium handle and a back lock; the Persistent is significantly longer at 201 mm open, with G10 scales and a liner lock. Both share a 3 mm thick N690 blade.