Another slender, stylish EDC is joining the B?ker lineup. The Kyoto is the latest release from the German company that plays with the gentleman's folder concept in modern, trendy ways.
But despite its modern stylings, the Kyoto, as you probably gleaned from its name, takes inspiration from historical Japanese bladecraft - specifically in the slim, symmetrical handle design, which echoes historical precedents as well as other Japanese-inspired designs like the Kwaiken. Interestingly, though, the blade appears to be very much in the Western tradition, with a symmetrical spear point shape. At 3.46 inches long, it toes the line between dedicated EDC and something that can flex into a wider range of chores - but given its narrow width and thin stock, medium-weight chores are probably the upper limit of what this knife is designed to accomplish.
The blade steel is D2 yet again. Multiple releases in B?ker's lineup this year indicate that the company is intent on adding this semi stainless to their corral of B?ker Plus steel standbys. D2 is rapidly approaching 8Cr13MoV/AUS-8 levels of familiarity with the general knife-using populace, but just to recap: it brings above average edge retention to the budget knife arena, while not quite attaining full stainless steel status.
Although the Kyoto is not a Kansei Matsuno design, it does resemble his Boker collabs like the Nori in its symmetrical handle design. This is a neutral shape that lets the user decide precisely how to hold it. Contoured G-10 scales let this slim little liner lock flipper fill the hand to a degree, and the lack of full liners means the Kyoto is nice and lightweight at 2.15 oz. A sculpted titanium clip is undoubtedly the most luxe touch on this knife. Somewhat torpedo-shaped, it sits in a shallow channel cut into the back scale and is unfortunately not reversible.
If you read my site, you'll know that the Benchmade Griptilian is probably my favorite folder of all time. The combination of good size, good steel, and the axis lock, combined with a reasonable price, make it a top choice. The normal Grip comes with a black handle, although you can get the standard configuration in various colors handles, with or without serration, and in a drop point with a thumb stud or a sheepsfoot blade with a thumbhole. The fullsize Griptilian is readily available in handle colors of black, orange, sand, and olive drab. Mini-Grips come in a variety of colorful options such as black, blue, yellow, pink, and yellow.
However, the choices are still limited, so Benchmade has set up a Customize Your New Griptilian page on their website. It allows you to order a customized Griptilian or Mini-Griptilian in almost any set-up you can imagine. Choices include 12 different color options including black white, orange, blue gray, yellow, pink, hot pink, and olive drab among others. You can also choose between three different blade styles with drop point, sheepsfoot, or tanto and each can be plain edge or serrated. Four steel choices are available with D2 and S30V being high end steels. You can also choose whether components should be silver or black and the color and type of pocket clip. At the end, you end up with basically a fully custom setup. These custom Griptilians are not cheap, but if you have the money, you can design an awesome knife - even better than the standard, which I love!
We may only be a little more than halfway through 2018, but we've been wowed by the number of incredible knives that have made their way onto the scene this year. We've picked what we think are the best pocket knives (so far) of 2018. These are definitely must-have additions to any EDC rotation.
A gracious gift, indeed! If you haven't been brushing up on your Hebrew lately, that's what Hanan means - and it pretty much describes this folding knife to a T. Designed by custom knife maker Brad Southard, the Hanan is one of the best gentleman's folding knives to hit the market this year. Unlike most Spyderco knives, the Trademark Round Hole is much smaller than you'll typically see, which is because this Spydiehole is mostly aesthetic. Instead, you're going to rely on the flipper tab to deploy the blade. In our opinion, a gentleman's pocket knife has to have certain qualities to make it worthy of the title - and the Hanan delivers that in spades. The two-tone G10/titanium hybrid handles are smooth and have an elegance that screams ‘class'. Plus, you can't go wrong with S30V steel.
Why we picked it: Brad Southard is an amazing knife maker and designer, and his collaborations with Spyderco are no exception. This knife combines great design with high-end materials.
Say hello to the bigger, bolder brother to ZT's popular 0460. The iteration of the 0462 entered the scene this past January and it offers some pretty incredible specs: CPM-20CV steel, a carbon fiber front scale with a deep-red weave of color, a titanium framelock with hardened steel lockbar insert, and a sweeping blade that perfectly complements the curve of the handle. We can give you the same spiel we always do with ZT by talking about the buttery smooth action and the KVT ball-bearing system, but you won't really believe how good the flip is unless you try it yourself.
Why we picked it: This ZT is surprisingly comfortable in the hand, and its amazing blade shape and sleek red and black carbon fiber handle really set this knife apart from other flippers.
We've been seeing a lot of high-quality, high-value knives released recently but this might be the best of the bunch. This knife is an import version of one of Ferrum Forge's most popular designs of all time - the Fortis 2.0. This knife is manufactured in China by We Knives to help bring the cost down, but we all know We's exacting and demanding standards. You're basically getting incredible quality for a fraction of the cost of the original Fortis. Ferrum Forge knives have always had a unique action, and it's hard to describe unless you've handled one yourself. It's stiff, yet buttery smooth - you won't have to put forward any effort to deploy this blade.
Why we picked it: This knife has an amazing action and feels sturdy in your hand. The S35VN blade is a great steel for a hard use EDC, and it's also one of the best knives you'll find for the money anywhere.
Each year, Victorinox comes through with a Damasteel limited edition multi-tool. The 2018 pick? This Deluxe Tinker featuring a main blade with 333 pattern-welded layers of steel combined with elegant plum wood scales. This multi-tool was limited to a 6,000 piece run and each one is individually numbered, so not everyone is going to have this exclusive pocket knife. Exclusivity is part of the fun, though, right? This model gives you a large blade, a smaller pen blade, a Phillips screwdriver, a can opener with a small screwdriver, a bottle opener with a screwdriver and a wire stripper, a reamer, a key ring, scissors, a multipurpose hook, and pliers with wire cutters and crimping tools. Phew!
Why we picked it: This is a classic knife with a modern makeover. This contender for best pocket knife boasts the Victorinox durability we know and love and a style that can only be found in this limited edition piece.
Is it any wonder that the best pocket knives are so often USA-made? Benchmade has brought us a smaller, EDC-sized Crooked River that only comes in at 7.89” overall. You still get the same slender handle, classic aesthetics, and signature Axis Lock mechanism of its larger sibling, just in a more compact package. It's a win-win.
Why we picked it: The Mini Crooked River bridges the gap between classic looks and modern materials, giving a unique flair.
This high caliber folding knife is a perfect EDC and utility knife option. The blade-to-handle ratio gives you an incredible amount of control and cutting power, and the handle itself is contoured to give you an ergonomic grip that feels smooth and comfortable. This limited edition Intrepid is designed by frequent Kizer collaborator Ray Laconico and comes in at a compact 6.74” in overall length.
Why we picked it: The Mini Intrepid takes the design of the full-size model and puts it into a smaller package to allow for a more comfortable pocket carry. It also sports an M390 steel blade. Awesome steel, awesome knife.
The Yojimbo is frequently featured as one of the best Spyderco knives at KnifeCenter, so it's no small wonder that their latest iteration of the Yojimbo 2 is one of the most popular pocket knives this year. Designed by noted personal-defense trainer Michael Janich, the Yojimbo 2 is a pioneer in the application of the Wharncliffe blade. You're also getting premium CPM-20CV steel and carbon fiber handle scales. All par for the course when it comes to a great Spyderco folder.
Why we picked it: The combination of the Wharncliffe blade and Janich's combat-ready design make this one of the best self-defense knives on the market.
I bet we can read your mind right now - how in the heck is a cleaver a pocket knife? Well, it isn't - but we've been listing so many incredible 2018 knives that it seemed a shame to not mention the El Chappo. This cleaver transcends the kitchen. While it won't shy away from basic veggie chopping, it was designed specifically to tackle thick cuts of meat and to be taken out into the field to help divide game. Plus, it's American-made - have we mentioned how much we value that before? (Yes).