• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

BladeReviews.com

Knife Reviews

Menu
  • Home
  • Reviews by Brand
    • Al Mar Knives
    • Benchmade Knives
    • Boker Knives
    • Buck Knives
    • Cold Steel Knives
    • Chris Reeve Knives
    • CRKT Knives
    • DPx Gear
    • Emerson Knives
    • ESEE Knives
    • Fällkniven Knives
    • Fantoni Knives
    • Gerber Knives
    • Great Eastern Cutlery
    • Hinderer Knives
    • Hogue Knives
    • Ka-Bar Knives
    • Kershaw Knives
    • Kizer Knives
    • LionSteel Knives
    • Mcusta Knives
    • Mora Knives of Sweden
    • Microtech Knives
    • Ontario Knives
    • Opinel Knives
    • Reate Knives
    • Rockstead Knives
    • Schrade Knives
    • Shirogorov Knives
    • Smith & Wesson Knives
    • SOG Knives
    • Spartan Blades
    • Spyderco Knives
    • Steel Will Knives
    • Strider Knives
    • Victorinox Knives
    • Viper Knives
    • Zero Tolerance Knives
    • Close
  • Reviews by Purpose
    • EDC Knife Reviews
    • Tactical Knife Reviews
    • Survival Knife Reviews
    • Hard Use Folding Knives
    • High End Pocket Knives
    • Gentleman’s Folders
    • Rescue Knives
    • Traditional Knives
    • USA Made EDC Knives
    • Close
  • Reviews by Class
    • Folding Knives
    • Fixed Blade Knives
    • Assisted Opening Knives
    • Automatic Knives
    • Machetes
    • Titanium Frame Lock Knives
    • Close
  • Best Of
    • The Best EDC Knives
    • Best Survival Knives
    • Best Tactical Knives
    • Best High Value Knives
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
    • Flashlight Reviews
    • Multi-Tool Reviews
    • Watch Reviews
    • Knife Sharpener Reviews
    • Close
  • FAQs
    • Knife Care and Maintenance
    • Knife Dictionary
    • Knife Steels
    • Steel Composition
    • Interviews
    • Close
  • Contact
  • About
    • About
    • Privacy
    • Links
    • Close

Famars Lama Prima Edizione Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

This post contains affiliate links. We may get paid an affiliate commission if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of the links on this web page.

A relative newcomer to the cutlery scene, Famars is a company best known for crafting extremely high end shotguns. In fact, they happen to be the largest high end shotgun manufacturer in the world. Headquartered in Gardone, Italy, Famars has been creating functional works of art for over 50 years now, and build guns that seamlessly fuse innovative technology with old-world craftsmanship. So needless to say when I learned that this ultra high end firearms company was building knives, it got my attention. The Famars Lama Prima Edizione is their first foray into the world of luxury knives, and it is a real privilege to take a closer look at this very unique knife.

Described as the world’s first pinless dual-action automatic knife, the Lama is anything but typical; so in some ways this will depart from my typical knife review. After all, these knives are designed to compliment shotguns that can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. But while Famars’ products are the epitome of a luxury good, often featuring precious jewels and gold inlays, everything is built to be used. Their shotguns are most commonly used for hunting birds, and their new line of knives are designed to accompany the guns on such excursions. Of course a sleek folding knife like this would also be quite at home in a suit pocket or display case – functioning as an upscale EDC or simply a collectible.

Presentation

The Lama I received for examination is not just any Lama, but a Prima Edizione or “Premiere Edition” of the knife. Limited to 500 pieces, the Prima Edizione arrived in a lovely velvet lined wood box, and was accompanied by a signed and sealed certificate of authenticity. Each knife is one of a kind, and is both serialized and categorized within a historical log at the Famars headquarters. I must say I don’t typically spend much time mentioning the packaging materials, but the box is quite nice and provides an excellent spot to store the knife.

Famars Lama Box

General Dimensions and Blade Detail

Moving on to the knife itself, the Lama is slender tool with an overall length of 7-3/4″ (with both blades deployed, 5-1/2″ with one) and 2 2-1/2″ blades. The weight will vary depending on the options you select, but expect a weight in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 ounces. And there are countless options to choose from. The review will attempt to touch on some of those choices, but really the sky is the limit and each knife is custom made to the purchaser’s exact specifications.

Famars Lama

Famars allows you to build your knife around a wide variety of blade and tool options. My particular model came with two clip point blades honed to a razor’s edge. The inclusion of two blades was interesting, a departure from most modern folders. According Famars this was done to give the user more options. If you were to use this knife to dress birds in the field and one edge were to dull, then the user could simply switch to the other blade. Additionally, you have the option of selecting from a variety of other tools including scissors, a magnifying glass, or even a divot tool for golf fans.

Famars Lama

You also have a wide variety of blade steels to choose from. The Lama is available in 416 layer patterned damascus (with many different patterns to choose from) as well as virtually any stainless steel you desire. Like with every other aspect of the knife the sky is the limit when it comes to steel selection. I found the damascus that my knife came in to be quite good; attractive, razor sharp from the factory, and holding a keen edge after use.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle of the Lama is quite unique. When examining the exterior there is a distinct absence of any pins or screws holding the handle together. This is part of what gives the Lama it’s designation as the world’s first pinless dual-action automatic knife. The handle fits together thanks to some innovative design work, but more importantly the pinless design creates a wonderful canvas to showcase Famars’ exquisite engravings.

Famars Lama Engraving Options

When it comes to the engravings everything is done in-house by hand, and there is no limit to what can be accomplished. Everything from gold leaf to jewels can be integrated into the handle of your knife, and their engravers can carve any motif desired. For those looking to have a knife that matches their shotgun, well, that is now possible. And naturally you get your choice of handle materials as too (including aluminum, steel, and titanium). Famars has also recently begun offering their knives with various exotic wood and animal hide inlays, more options if you somehow felt restrained by their previous selection.

Famars Lama Engravers

Now, elaborate engravings and a dizzying array of materials is all well and good, but I am a stickler for performance and ergonomics. So I am happy to report that the Lama is just as pleasing to use as it is to look at. I am capable of getting a full grip without any problems and the thumb naturally rests on the spine of the knife. The handles have good thickness and fills the hand, and the “edgeless” design makes melt into your hand. And if you happen to be a fan of slimmer handles, Famars has you covered with their Piccolo model.

Deployment and Lockup

The Lama is a dual action automatic, and with the press of a button the blades spring to life. Both my blades fired fast and hard, and the flash of steel creates quite the conversation piece. Lock-up is solid thanks to a button lock, and the blades are also easy to release once you are done working. One interesting aspect about the knife is the absence of any kind of washers. The Lama is built to extremely tight tolerances so traditional phosphor bronze or teflon washers aren’t required. The fast action makes for a knife that is hard to put down, and with 2 blades at your disposal it is twice as easy to get carried away.

Famars Lama

Famas Lama – Final Thoughts

Like something out of a James Bond movie, the Lama blends style and sophistication to create an exclusive tool with a lot of appeal. No doubt fans of the company’s beautiful firearms will also be interested in the Lama, and I can definitely see the allure to having a custom made knife that matches your custom made gun.

I can also see the Lama appealing to collectors of automatic blades and unconventional designs. There is currently nothing else like the Lama on the market, and for that reason alone it’s worth a closer look. Any way you cut it the Lama is a wonderful blend of old world craftsmanship and cutting edge technology, and should appeal to blade aficionados of all persuasions. It was an absolute pleasure to spend some time with this very exotic knife and I highly suggest checking one out if you have the opportunity.

For more information on the Famars Lama visit the knife’s official website at FamarsLama.com.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Automatic Knives, Collectable Knives, EDC Knives, Folding Knives, Gentleman's Folder

About Dan Jackson

Dan is the creator of BladeReviews.com. He founded the site in 2010, and for the first 5 years Dan wrote all of the reviews and recorded all of the video reviews. He grew up using pocket knives, and the decision to start the website stemmed from his fascination of all things sharp combined with a deep passion for writing. He has personally reviewed almost 300 knives of all shapes, sizes, and price points. He is recognized as an authority on daily carry knives and has consulted with knife companies on product design.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. M.U.C.T says

    May 29, 2012 at 1:06 am

    gorgeous

    Reply
    • Dan says

      May 29, 2012 at 6:44 am

      She’s a beaut!

      Reply
  2. Richard says

    May 29, 2012 at 2:06 pm

    Wow, looks like some nice work. Just checked out the prices. Considering it is an innovative design (rare these days) it does not seem overly high. Would be a nice piece for just about any collection.

    Reply
    • Dan says

      May 29, 2012 at 2:47 pm

      Hey Richard. I’ll be the first to say they aren’t cheap. But when you consider what their shotguns go for it begins to make sense. I agree, they are quite unique and would go nicely in a lot of collections.

      Dan

      Reply
  3. Logan says

    June 2, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    Great Review! I have a Prima Edizione and it is by far my favorite knife i own. It is a great knife to carry around and the weight is perfect. Everyone that i show is just amazed of how beautiful the blades are. I also have to say, if you like this knife you should look at the steel version instead of the black. If you dont want to pay for the engravings, i think it is by far the best looking one.

    Reply
    • Dan says

      June 2, 2016 at 6:18 pm

      Hey Logan,

      Thanks for stopping by and offering some thoughts on the Prima Edizione. Not many people have this one, and I am glad to hear you enjoy yours. I agree, the steel version looks very nice!

      Dan

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on RSS

Subscribe to Email Updates and Never Miss a Review (No Spam)!

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Shop BladeHQ

Shop Outdoor Gear on Amazon

Shop KniveShipFree.com

Search BladeReviews:

Best of BladeReviews:

Best EDC Knives
Best Survival Knives
Best Tactical Knives
Best High Value Knives

Copyright © 2025 · Log in