1 a first rate "super" stainless you pretty much can't do without. If you have a really first rate product you might be able to get away with a excellent tool steel. The BG-42 with Titanium is as close to perfect marketing wise as you can get. Russia has a good rep as far as heat treating but even though it is just as important to making a good knife it is not nearly as important to marketing.
2 some good press in the knife magazines and forums. An article in Tactical Knives would be perfect
3 Micarta handles , pretty much every really expensive first rate tactical knife on the US market has micarta handles usually with a full tang.
4 Thick beefy blades ,they should be at least 3/16th inches thick. Personally I am not a fan but the market wants pointy pry bars.
So far so good. The line could use a few more micarta handled knives but seems pretty well set.
A couple weak points are sheaths and some of the handle designs are unfamiliar to NA knife buyers. It is a tricky thing to keep the knife makers happy ,have a suitable knife for the US market and keep the Russian spirit.
I would keep the handles the same but make a few of the military and hunting styles out of solid micarta as well.
2 some good press in the knife magazines and forums. An article in Tactical Knives would be perfect

3 Micarta handles , pretty much every really expensive first rate tactical knife on the US market has micarta handles usually with a full tang.
4 Thick beefy blades ,they should be at least 3/16th inches thick. Personally I am not a fan but the market wants pointy pry bars.
So far so good. The line could use a few more micarta handled knives but seems pretty well set.
A couple weak points are sheaths and some of the handle designs are unfamiliar to NA knife buyers. It is a tricky thing to keep the knife makers happy ,have a suitable knife for the US market and keep the Russian spirit.
I would keep the handles the same but make a few of the military and hunting styles out of solid micarta as well.