Böker Plus Hidden Release Coffin Review: A $98 Automatic Folder With a Sliding Bolster
Chuck Gedraitis’s coffin-shaped folder hides its automatic release in the bolster, with a 3.15-inch Sandvik steel blade and deep-carry clip.
The Böker Plus Hidden Release Coffin makes its defining feature hard to spot: there’s no exposed button, lever or latch. Designed by custom knifemaker Chuck Gedraitis, this $98 folder opens when you slide the bolster at the top of the handle. The concealed control gives the knife an unusual mechanism, while its steel blade and pocket clip make it a practical everyday carry design.
BökerThe shape sets the tone: the handle is styled like a small coffin, and the release asks you to find its moving bolster by touch. A firm slide activates the automatic action and deploys the blade. That hidden interface is the main point of distinction here; it also means the knife may take some familiarity to operate smoothly. The available information describes the action, but doesn’t specify a locking system or other mechanism details.
The idea brings to mind CRKT’s Fulcrum 2, which also conceals its opening method. The Fulcrum 2 uses a two-step manual process, while the Hidden Release Coffin’s bolster movement triggers automatic deployment. It’s a useful comparison for understanding the design, though the two mechanisms work differently.
Blade and handle details
The spear point blade measures 3.15 inches and is made from Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel. The source describes the steel as offering solid edge retention and corrosion resistance, making it a capable material choice for routine cutting tasks. A refined ricasso completes the blade’s profile. No blade thickness, weight or closed length is provided, so those specs shouldn’t be assumed when comparing it with other folders.
The handle is black G10, described as smooth yet tough, and has a coffin-inspired outline. A deep-carry clip keeps the knife low in the pocket. That setup will appeal to people who want a distinctive handle shape without a conspicuous carry position. The source doesn’t give clip orientation or whether it can be repositioned, details that may matter to some buyers.
The release is the feature to understand before considering the knife. An automatic opening mechanism calls for deliberate handling and awareness of the blade’s path as it deploys. Anyone carrying or using a folding knife should keep fingers clear of the blade’s travel and use it only in circumstances where they can control the opening and cutting task. The source also cautions that rules for automatic knives vary by location, so buyers should check the requirements that apply where they live and carry.
Who it may suit
This design looks best suited to a collector or everyday carry user who values an unusual mechanism and a bold silhouette, alongside familiar materials and a midlength blade. Its appeal rests on the combination: a hidden bolster release, spear point profile, stainless steel and discreet clip. For someone choosing mainly by weight, pocket dimensions or detailed cutting performance, the published specifications leave questions unanswered.
The knife’s release may also make it less intuitive than a conventional folder for someone encountering it for the first time. Get familiar with how the bolster moves and how the blade travels before treating it as a regular pocket tool. The point is not simply that it opens differently; the control is concealed, so learning its placement is part of using it responsibly.
The seasonal coffin styling makes the timing around Halloween and Día de los Muertos an easy fit, but the knife’s lasting interest is mechanical. Böker has taken a familiar automatic folder category and hidden the control in an unexpected place. At $98, that gives the Hidden Release Coffin a clear identity; whether it works as an everyday choice depends on a buyer’s comfort with the mechanism, local rules and the missing carry specifications.
A little old-school style with some modern tricks.
— GPKNIVES (@gpknives) October 23, 2026
Boker Plus brings us the Mini Sanjo with its green Micarta and Japanese-style tanto, alongside the Hidden Release Coffin with its clever bolster-activated automatic.
Both are in stock at GPKNIVES!https://t.co/HB4O1yDkbx pic.twitter.com/l7D5kugi0O
Availability and price
The Böker Plus Hidden Release Coffin is listed at $98. See the Böker product listing for current availability and details.
BökerBöker Plus Hidden Release Coffin — $98 at Böker
For background on the comparison, the original piece links to the Gordian Knot legend as a metaphor for solving a puzzle with an unexpected move. Here, the practical takeaway is simpler: confirm the knife’s specifications and local requirements, then learn the concealed release before carrying it.
Learn more about how products are evaluated.
