You’ve got a problem. A good problem, mind you, but a problem nonetheless. Your knife collection has officially outgrown that old shoebox under the bed. Those trusty zip-up pouches are bulging at the seams, and your significant other has started giving your kitchen drawer a very suspicious side-eye.
It’s time. Time to give your prized blades the proper home they deserve - a place where they can be both admired and kept safe. But here you are, stuck in a classic head-scratcher: The Armada or The Armory Pro? Choosing between them can feel a bit like trying to pick a favourite Beatle. Both are brilliant, but they play slightly different tunes.
Fear not. As the chaps who designed them, we’re here to give you the inside scoop. We'll break it all down for you to help you find the perfect match for your collection.
Key Takeaways
For those of you who like to skip to the end of the book, here’s the quick summary:
-
The Big Question: You need a serious display case but are torn between the mid-sized Armory Pro and the sizeable Armada.
-
The Armory Pro: This is your go-to for a curated collection. It holds up to 30 knives, looks sharp on a desk or shelf, and is the perfect balance of display and storage without demanding too much space.
-
The Armada: This is the flagship, the big kahuna. Built for the serious collector, it holds 40-50+ knives (including fixed blades!) and is a substantial piece of furniture in its own right. If your collection is more of an army, this is your command centre.
-
The Deciding Factor: It really boils down to two things: the size of your current collection (and how fast it’s growing) and the amount of physical space you can dedicate to it.
A Tale of Two Knife Cases
Let's properly introduce our two champions of knife storage.
In this corner, The Armory Pro: Picture the Armory Pro as the sleek, stylish cruiser in our fleet. It’s the perfect harmony of size and storage, designed for the collector who wants to showcase their favourites without needing to remortgage the house for a new extension. It’s a statement piece, absolutely, but one that plays nicely with your other furniture without hogging the limelight.
And in the opposite corner, The Armada: Now, if the Armory Pro is a cruiser, The Armada is the aircraft carrier. It's a beast of a case, as our co-founder Phil is fond of saying, it’s "as big as my microwave!" This is the grand tourer of knife cases, built for the collector whose hobby has become a full-blown passion. If you’ve ever looked at your pile of knives and thought, "I could arm a small village," then The Armada is your barracks.
Head-to-Head
Alright, let's get down to business. How do these two actually stack up against each other?
Capacity: How Many Blades Can You Muster?
-
The Armory Pro: This case is cleverly designed to hold around 30 knives. You can stand your top 7 on the solid wood pillars for a 360° viewing party under the acrylic lid. Meanwhile, the felt-lined drawer tidies away another 20+ knives, keeping them safe and sound.
-
The Armada: For the collector with a more... enthusiastic acquisition habit, The Armada steps up to the plate. It can comfortably house a whopping 40-50 pocket knives. The top display area is larger, showing off your 9 best pieces. The drawers? They’ll swallow another 30-40 knives with ease. And, thanks to feedback from collectors like you, we even included an optional insert in the top drawer to securely store up to 9 fixed blades.
Size and Weight: A Matter of Real Estate
-
The Armory Pro: This case measures a tidy 15.0" x 6.9" x 10.5" and weighs a solid 12 lbs (or 5.5 kgs for our mates across the pond). It’s got enough heft to feel premium, but it won’t give you a hernia moving it or require its own postcode.
-
The Armada: As mentioned, this one's a heavyweight. It measures a commanding 18.4" x 10.8" x 10.8" and weighs in at a hefty 27 lbs. That’s about the weight of an average two-year-old child, so you can be sure it’s not going to get knocked over easily. You’ll want to pick a spot for it and stick with it.
Design and Materials: Crafted for Collectors, By Collectors
Both cases are born from the same Holme & Hadfield DNA: a clean, modern look that lets your collection do the talking, all built with top-notch materials.
-
Shared Features: Both The Armada and The Armory Pro feature beautiful solid wood pillars and felt-lined drawers to ensure your blades are pampered and protected from scratches. They both have a hinged, crystal-clear acrylic cover that keeps the dust off your top knives while giving you and your guests an unobstructed view. The drawers glide open smoothly on proper metal rails—no sticking or wobbling here. Best of all? Both arrive at your door fully assembled. We believe the only thing you should be assembling is your collection, not our furniture.
-
The Armory Pro: This case also includes plush vegan leather padding in the drawer, giving it an extra touch of class and protection.
-
The Armada: With its sheer size, The Armada makes a much grander statement. It’s not just a box; it’s a piece of furniture, a true centerpiece for any collector’s room.
So, Which One is Your Perfect Match?
Still scratching your head? No worries. Let's walk through the decision process.
How Big is Your Blade Brigade?
Let's state the obvious first. If your collection is still in its early days, or if you’re a minimalist who prefers to cycle through a curated selection of favourites, The Armory Pro is a fantastic choice. It gives you plenty of room to grow without feeling cavernous.
However, if you're already buying knives faster than you can unbox them, The Armada is calling your name. Don't buy a case for the collection you have; buy it for the collection you know you're going to have. It’s an investment that saves you from needing to upgrade again in six months.
Where in the Blazes Will You Put It?
Think about where this new case is going to live. The Armory Pro is the more versatile of the two, fitting beautifully on a desktop, a sturdy bookshelf, or a console table. The Armada needs a bit more breathing room. It’s a piece that demands attention, so you’ll want to give it a place of honour where it can be properly admired. Measure twice, buy once, as the old saying goes.
The Final Verdict
Look, the choice between The Armada and The Armory Pro is a good one to have. You can't really go wrong. Both are exceptional cases that will protect and showcase your collection with style.
If you want that perfect sweet spot—a beautiful display with ample storage that elevates your collection without dominating the room—then The Armory Pro is for you.
But if you are a capital 'C' Collector, with a large and ever-expanding horde of blades, and you want nothing but the best and biggest home for them, then it has to be The Armada. It’s more than just a display case; it’s a declaration of your passion for the hobby.
No matter which path you choose, you can rest easy knowing you’re getting a quality piece designed by people who are just as nuts about collecting as you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do the cases really come fully assembled?
A: Yes, absolutely! We wouldn't wish the pain of flat-pack furniture and illegible instructions on our worst enemy. Just unbox it, and it's ready for your knives.
Q: What are the cases made from?
A: We use high-quality, solid wood for the pillars and frame, soft felt for all the drawer linings to prevent scratches, and a thick, crystal-clear acrylic for the dust-proof lid. The Armory Pro also features vegan leather padding. It’s all top-notch stuff.
Q: Can The Armada actually hold my fixed-blade knives securely?
A: You bet. We heard the call from the community and designed a special foam insert specifically for the top drawer of The Armada that holds up to 9 fixed blades snugly and safely.
Q: Will the acrylic lid scratch easily?
It’s a very durable, high-quality acrylic. That said, it's not invincible. To keep it looking pristine, we always recommend cleaning it with a soft microfiber cloth (like one you'd use for sunglasses). Avoid paper towels or harsh chemicals.
Q: I’m still on the fence. Can you give me one last piece of advice?
A: Of course! Here’s a simple rule of thumb: If you currently have to store some of your knives in a separate box because they don't fit in your primary storage, you need The Armada. If you're looking for the ultimate showcase for your top 30 blades, The Armory Pro is your guy. And if you're still stuck, just drop our customer service team a line—we're always happy to help a fellow collector out.
