Gedraitis Switch Army Retro Edition in Hand-Laid Mosaic Micarta
Chuck Gedraitis built this Gedraitis Switch Army Retro Edition for the Pacific Northwest Custom Invitational, where it was a showcase piece. The scales are a hand-laid mosaic: individual micarta rounds in red, black, white, and grey, set one at a time into a cream micarta field.
Underneath the pattern is the same scale release automatic Chuck engineered from the ground up. No button, no lever, no latch appears anywhere on the handle. The show side scale itself releases the blade.
Why the Mosaic Scales Took So Long
A milled scale removes material to create a pattern. A hand-laid mosaic does the opposite. Gedraitis placed each round individually, then ground and polished the whole face flush so the boundaries between colors sit dead level with the surface.
Look at the concentric work. Red rings carry white centers. Black discs carry red centers. One ring runs red on the outside, black in the middle, white at the core — three materials in a single element. Smaller grey and black rounds fill the spaces between.
The maker documented the build. Photographs of the scales show the rounds standing proud of the blank before grinding, then flush and polished, then fitted with hardware and cut for the tools.
The result reads as a graphic pattern rather than a texture. It is the sort of piece a maker builds for an invitational rather than for inventory, and collectors who follow master custom knife makers recognize the difference immediately.
Nitro-V Blade and the Scale Release Action
The Gedraitis Switch Army Retro Edition carries a 3.25-inch spear point blade in Nitro-V stainless. Nitro-V is a nitrogen and vanadium enhanced version of AEB-L, developed by New Jersey Steel Baron. That chemistry takes a fine edge, sharpens easily, and resists corrosion well. The blade wears a satin finish and a Gedraitis script etch.
Push the show side scale sideways and the blade fires. The lock works separately from the automatic mechanism. A titanium liner lock in the off side scale holds the blade open, exactly as it would on a manual folder. That separation is uncommon among single action automatic knives.
Titanium forms the liners, the spacer, and the spring. Red accent inserts sit at the butt end alongside the stainless lanyard shackle.
True to the Swiss Army knives that inspired it, the piece keeps its traditional tools. A toothpick and tweezers seat into channels in the handle, cut into the scales during the build.
Condition and What’s Included with This Gedraitis Switch Army Retro Edition
Chuck Gedraitis completed this knife in 2026. It reached us direct from the maker rather than through a collection or estate. It is new and unused. The blade shows no sharpening and no carry wear.
We describe every piece against our published grading standards, and we document sourcing under our provenance policy. This knife ships complete with the following:
- Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA), handwritten by the maker
- Original soft pouch
- Two Chuck Gedraitis collectible decals
- Toothpick and tweezers, seated in the handle
Product Specifications for the Gedraitis Switch Army Retro Edition
- Maker: Chuck Gedraitis Custom Knives, Massachusetts, USA
- Model: Switch Army Switchblade, Retro Edition
- Type: Side-opening automatic folding knife
- Deployment: Scale release, show side scale
- Lock: Titanium liner lock, off side scale
- Date Made: 2026
- Blade Length: 3.25 inches
- Blade Steel: Nitro-V stainless
- Blade Shape: Spear point
- Blade Finish: Satin
- Blade Thickness: 0.13 inches
- Overall Length, Open: 7.375 inches
- Closed Length: 4.125 inches
- Width: 0.32 inches
- Handle Material: Hand-laid mosaic micarta, cream field with red, black, white, and grey rounds
- Liners: Titanium
- Spacer: Titanium
- Spring: Titanium
- Hardware: Stainless pivot and body screws
- Accessory Tools: Toothpick and tweezers, seated in the handle
- Handle End Inserts: Red, at the butt end
- Lanyard Attachment: Stainless shackle with split ring
- Blade Markings: “Gedraitis” script etch, show side
- Built For: Pacific Northwest Custom Invitational
- Country of Origin: United States
- Condition: New, unused, direct from the maker
- SKU: 00181-CGK-SWARMY-RETRO-MOSAICMICARTA-20260101
- Included: Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA), original soft pouch, two collectible decals, toothpick and tweezers
Video Description of a Unique Swiss Army Switchblade
The Chuck Gedraitis Switch Army Switchblade Retro Edition is new and unused, direct from the maker. It is a side-opening automatic folder on a Swiss Army style profile. The 3.25-inch blade is Nitro-V stainless with a spear point and satin finish. The scales are hand-laid mosaic micarta, with red, black, white, and grey rounds set into a cream field.
Titanium liners, spacer, and spring sit beneath the scales. A titanium liner lock secures it open. The show side scale fires the blade. A toothpick and tweezers seat in the handle. A Gedraitis script etch marks the blade. Red inserts and a stainless shackle finish the butt end. It measures 7.375 inches open and 4.125 inches closed. Included are a signed Certificate of Authenticity, soft pouch, and two collectible decals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this a Retro Edition?
Chuck named it that himself. The concentric rings in red, black, and white read as mid-century graphic design rather than as a modern tactical pattern, and the name stuck to the build.
Is this Gedraitis Switch Army Retro Edition new?
Yes. Gedraitis finished it in 2026 and we acquired it directly from him. It is new and unused, never carried or sharpened.
How were the mosaic scales made?
Each round was laid into the micarta field individually by hand, then the whole face was ground and polished flush. Nothing here is milled or printed. The build took considerably longer than a standard scale.
Does it come with the toothpick and tweezers?
Yes. Both seat into channels cut into the scales during the build. Gedraitis keeps that detail on the Switch Army as a nod to the Swiss Army knives the design draws from.
How does the scale release work?
You push the show side scale laterally, and the spring drives the blade open. Because there is no button or latch, the mechanism stays hidden. A separate titanium liner lock then secures the blade.
What is Nitro-V steel?
Nitro-V is a stainless steel introduced by New Jersey Steel Baron in 2017. Essentially, it is AEB-L with nitrogen and vanadium added. It holds a fine edge, sharpens readily, and resists corrosion well.
Is this piece one of a kind?
Yes. Gedraitis built it for the Pacific Northwest Custom Invitational as a showcase piece. The mosaic layout is unique to this knife and will not be repeated.
What documentation comes with the knife?
The maker’s handwritten Certificate of Authenticity, signed and dated. It records the scale release action, the Nitro-V blade, the mosaic micarta scales with G-10 round inlays, and the titanium liners, spacer, and spring. Questions are welcome on our FAQs page.
Buy This Chuck Gedraitis Switch Army Retro Edition
We inspect, photograph, and honestly describe every knife we list. This is an invitational showcase piece, new and unused, and the mosaic will not repeat. Browse what else is available on the Chuck Gedraitis Custom Knives Brand Page. If you own custom pieces yourself, sell your collection for a same-day offer.
Automatic Knife Legal Notice
This is an automatic knife. Laws governing purchase, possession, and carry vary by state, county, and municipality.
The buyer must know and follow the laws that apply where they live before ordering. We do not give legal advice. For current state-by-state information, consult the American Knife and Tool Institute.
