Outdoor Element Earns Utility Patent for Innovative Field Feather Blade-Locking Mechanism

Colorado outdoor gear company turns a hunter's request and customer feedback into a patented improvement to replaceable-blade knives.

ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO | November 5, 2026 — Outdoor Element (OE) announces the issuance of U.S. Utility Patent No. 12,727,602, titled Knife Assembly, covering the blade-locking and release mechanism developed by founder and mechanical engineer Michael Mojica for the Field Feather replaceable-blade knife.

The innovation began with a request from professional hunter and Beyond the Hunt TV host Rick Kreuter and took shape through Mojica's determination to solve problems experienced by users of existing replaceable-blade knives.

When Kreuter first approached Mojica about designing a knife with replaceable surgical blades, Mojica wasn't interested in simply making a version of an existing product. He wanted to bring something genuinely innovative to the market.

Kreuter had a specific request: a concave blade similar to one he'd seen his dentist use. He recognized its potential for precise caping around antlers and eyes when preparing hides for taxidermy. Mojica developed a proprietary concave surgical blade for Outdoor Element, but felt the knife needed to offer more.

He began researching replaceable-blade knives from established brands, paying particular attention to customer reviews. Some users described frustration with blade changes that required a separate tool, especially when that tool was misplaced or left behind. Others raised concerns about blades releasing unexpectedly during use.

Mojica saw an opportunity to address both frustrations through better engineering.

Inspired by firearm safety mechanisms, he developed the Field Feather's dual-action locking system, designed to securely retain the blade while allowing quick, tool-free replacement, even in slippery field conditions.

"Rick brought years of hunting experience, and I brought an engineer's curiosity," said Mojica. "His idea got the project started, and listening to customers helped me understand what needed to work better."

The Field Feather includes OE's proprietary concave surgical blades alongside standard #60XT straight-edge blades with every knife and blade refill package. Mojica also integrated OE's EverSpark™ fire-starting wheel, adding another practical function for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.

"Innovation doesn't always mean inventing something entirely new," Mojica added. "Sometimes it's paying attention to the little things that frustrate people and finding a better way. A small improvement can save time, reduce risk, or give someone more confidence in their gear. That's what we set out to do with the Field Feather."

Issued September 8, 2026, the utility patent recognizes the Field Feather's blade-locking and release assembly, not the replaceable-blade knife concept itself.

The Field Feather builds on OE's longstanding relationship with Kreuter, who previously named the company's Phoenix Talon hunting knife, with a replaceable gut hook, the official blade of Beyond the Hunt.

Watch Rick Kreuter demonstrate the Field Feather:
Watch the Field Feather demonstration

Read the full story behind Field Feather: He Asked Me to Make a Knife. I Said No.

About Outdoor Element

Outdoor Element sparks confident outdoor adventure through innovative gear. Michael Mojica founded OE as a side hustle and shortly after left his advancing aerospace career in 2017 to focus full-time on his passion for outdoor product innovation. With the Native American name “Bodaway,” meaning “Fire-Maker,” it’s no surprise that fire-starting capability has become a recurring theme throughout OE’s product line.

Michael Mojica is a named inventor on at least 14 granted U.S. patents spanning outdoor equipment, mechanical tools, and medical devices, with additional patent applications pending. OE products are available online at www.outdoorelement.com, in 16 national parks, several national outdoor retailers, and hundreds of independent outdoor shops in over 12 countries worldwide.

Patent: U.S. 12,727,602 | Knife Assembly | September 8, 2026

Media inquiries: marketing@outdoorelement.com

Press resources: Field Feather images and videos | Outdoor Element logos