TacRay Turan Review: A Five-Layer Laminate Folder with a Copper Inlay

Introduction

Some knives try to stand out with aggressive marketing. The TacRay Turan stands out with its construction. At its core is a five-layer laminate blade with a copper inlay, wrapped in a titanium-reinforced monoblock handle milled from a single piece of material. It is a genuinely unusual combination, and at around $119, it sits at a very approachable price for what you get.

TacRay has built a reputation for aggressive blade shapes, heavy titanium use, and slightly exotic designs, and the Turan fits that identity well. It is also a compelling alternative to the Benchmade Narrows for anyone who wants something a bit more distinctive. A newer version of the Turan has since been released with a glass breaker and a few updates, but the original design remains the focus here.

The Blade: Five Layers, Cobalt Steel, and Copper

The blade profile is what TacRay calls a “sheep’s toe,” which reads like a modified sheep’s foot. It is thick, aggressive, and convex-ground, giving it a modern look that pairs nicely with the traditional construction underneath.

The laminate stack is the real story. This is not the usual three-layer sandwich of durable outer steel walls around a core blade steel. It is a five-layer laminate with copper laminated directly against the central steel. The core steel is 10Cr15CoMoV, a Chinese steel generally regarded as a direct equivalent to VG10, with very similar alloy percentages and comparable performance in sharpness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, and strength.

Copper inlays are not common, though they are not entirely unheard of either. The technique has roots in old Damascus folding work, and Japanese makers have refined it considerably, which is likely the lineage behind this blade. As for durability, laminates are very strong, but copper is a soft metal. Whether the inlay wears as well as plain steel over decades is an open question. What is certain is that the look is striking, and it photographs far better in person than in any listing image.

There is no jimping on the spine. If you like jimping, that may be a miss, but the smooth top flows cleanly through the handle in a subtle hourglass curve, and the visible layering in the steel more than compensates visually.

The Monoblock Handle and Pocket Clip System

The handle is a monoblock: TacRay mills the entire handle out of a single block of green micarta (a black G10 version also exists), with no liners except a small section up front holding the pivot. Titanium reinforcement plates sit on both sides, and the hardware is anchored with a nice blade stop up top that catches the blade against the sliding pin of the axis lock.

The axis lock flicks the blade out smoothly, and a large lanyard loop is drilled right through the handle. With no standoffs, no back spacers, and essentially no screws to worry about, the design feels solid and clean in a way that segmented handles do not. The only visible machining is a small area at the rear, a minor detail the maker will likely refine.

The pocket clip is another smart touch. Instead of compromising a single clip to make it reversible, TacRay includes two dedicated clips: one for right-hand carry and one for left-hand carry. That way the clip shape can be optimized rather than symmetrized, and either handedness carries the knife well.

Weight and Everyday Carry

The micarta version weighs about 2.7 oz, with the G10 version coming in slightly heavier at around 2.9 oz. Overall length is roughly 7 inches. It carries a touch wider than some slimmer folders, though not dramatically so, and the solid monoblock construction gives it a distinctive feel in hand.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The copper inlay is the main question mark. It will change over time, developing patina based on carry conditions, environment, cleaning habits, and use. That means no two Turans will ever look exactly alike, which is part of the charm. If you want a blade that looks factory-fresh forever, this is not it. If you enjoy a knife that ages with you, it is a genuine feature.

Laminate construction with copper is also not proven the way a plain steel blade is. Whether it lasts a lifetime is uncertain, and that is worth accepting before buying.

Buying Advice

At around $119, the TacRay Turan is very affordable for what it offers: a five-layer laminate blade with cobalt steel core, a titanium-reinforced monoblock handle, an axis lock, and two dedicated pocket clips. As of now, only the micarta version appears to be available.

If you want an heirloom-quality blade you can baby, consider your options carefully. But if you want a genuinely interesting folder that you will enjoy carrying and using every day, the Turan is hard to beat at this price.

Conclusion

The TacRay Turan packs an unusual amount of engineering and old-world craft into a single folder: laminate steel, cobalt alloy, copper inlay, monoblock construction, and modern CNC machining. It is a small slice of metallurgical history you can carry in a pocket, and at its price, it is an easy recommendation for anyone who wants something a little different in their EDC rotation.