Bill Rapier over at Amtac Blades is rolling out a slimmer version of one of his most established fixed blades. The Minuteman II Slim keeps the same 4-inch full flat ground blade and 7 3/4-inch overall length as the standard Minuteman II, but drops blade stock from 3/16 inch to 0.15 inch, about a 20 percent reduction. That thinner stock also cuts blade weight from 4.7 ounces to 4.3 ounces. Handle length remains at 3 3/4 inches, so the Slim fits in the same low-profile belt sheaths as the rest of the Minuteman II line. MagnaCut, like other offerings, will remain as the blade steel, trading a bit of edge retention against something like M390 (like my NorthmanX) for better toughness and corrosion resistance.

The blade geometry itself appears to be completely unchanged from the standard Minuteman II, which is a swedge-equipped full flat grind built for thrusting strength, with 1.3 inches of flat, semi-sharp spine ahead of the handle for striking a ferro rod (a favorite feature of mine). What's changed is how the knife carries. Losing nearly a tenth of an inch of stock and 0.4 ounces off the blade should make a noticeable difference at the belt line over a full day, without touching the geometry that gives the Minuteman its performance. For buyers already running a Minuteman II sheath, the Slim is a straightforward swap. Currently listed at $550, Amtac Blades says the Stonewashed MagnaCut Slim is now in stock, with black stonewash shipping first, followed by a standard stonewash finish. More info and pricing are available on the Amtac Blades website.