The Top Knife and EDC Releases of 2018

If 2018 taught us anything about pocket knives, it’s that tiny blades are in. The smaller, the better in fact, and it doesn’t matter what type of knife is shrunk or what blade shape it uses — this year saw the release of miniature folders, keychain-sized utility knives and more than one compact cleaver. While well-known knife brands continued to push new designs through collaborations with custom makers, smaller shops harnessed crowdfunding sites and proved that in considering knives and EDC tools, there’s still plenty of room for creativity.

This Throwback Leatherman Is Just What Your EDC Needs

Inspired by the original PST released in 1983.

Gerber’s Latest Pocket Knife Is an Automatic Made for the EDC Crowd

The Empower pocket knife is a blend of tactical components and everyday functionality.

These Gorgeous Handcrafted Fixed Blade Knives Use Some of the Hardest Steel Available

Inlaid wood handles, high-end steel blades and a healthy dose of outdoor practicality.

This Ridiculously Tiny (and Great-Looking) Pocket Knife Could Replace the One You Currently Carry

The Elko may seem puny — it’s about the size of an average USB stick — but the tiny EDC pocket knife is packed with utility. Now the drop-point pocket knife is available in a…

Can a Tiny, Pocketable Cleaver Really Make Good EDC?

The JHO Knives Blanka has a full-tang cleaver with a tanto point that weighs just 3.5 ounces and is only five inches in length.

One of the Most Innovative Folding Pocket Knives Makes Its Return

Instead of the traditional upward swing, the Snap Lock uses a unique 180-degree outward motion to fold in and out of a minimal skeletonized handle.

This Futuristic Folding Knife Is One of the Prettiest We’ve Seen This Year

When Bladerunners Systems (BRS) was founded, it dedicated itself to producing the best balisong knives available; now it’s tackling the folder.

This Is Your New Grail EDC Folding Knife

As if you needed another item on your wish list.

What’s Missing from Your EDC? This Beautiful Pocket Cleaver

Massdrop and Ferrum Forge have collaborated to produce the Buc, a folding cleaver-style pocket knife that draws inspiration from Asian cavalry swords.

Leatherman Re-Designs Its Classic Survival-Specific Tool

While many of Leatherman’s multitools are designed for everyday use, the Signal is specially geared for the outdoors and wilderness survival. To pay tribute to the Signal’s wilderness utility, Leatherman has re-released the classic tool…

Declutter Your EDC With This Multi-Tool Survival Belt

Your EDC already includes your wallet, a knife, a flashlight, a watch, a pen and a keychain — how much more do you honestly fit in your pockets?

This Giant Multi-Tool Has Fewer Tools Than a Leatherman

The just-announced Combar is a beefed up multi-tool with only three tools: a hammer, an ax and a spade. It won’t fit in a pocket, but that doesn’t mean it’s not useful.

Opinel Made a Limited-Edition Version of its Iconic Pocket Knife

The No. 8 is a straightforward pocket knife with a steel blade, rotating lock and a wooden handle. Now there are 100 available with a limited-edition handle made with rare woods.

This New Swiss Army Knife Just Took Home One of the Most Prestigious Design Awards in the World

Victorinox’s Jetsetter multitool has a super durable frame and clever features that made it a winner at this year’s Red Dot Design Awards.

We Can’t Wait to Get Our Hands on This Perfect EDC Knife

Funded yesterday on Kickstarter, The Chase by Quiet Carry looks to be the perfect EDC blade.

Your Mom Will Appreciate This New Knife More Than You

KA-BAR is best known for the folding and fixed-blade knives it makes for survivalists and EDC enthusiasts, but its latest knife, designed in collaboration with the current author of the world’s most famous cookbook, is…

This Knife Is Basically a Machete, Is Probably Unnecessary, and I Couldn’t Care Less

This knife is both the best Father’s Day gift ever and completely excessive.

Do You Really Need a Full-Sized Pocket Knife?

For most of us, the effectiveness of a full-sized pocket knife can be lost. If most of the tasks you perform with your blade involve small and precise cuts, then all you might need is…

These New Pocket Knives Are Futuristic and Practical

Earlier this week, KnifeNews revealed that Kizer Cutlery has a new collection of pocket knives in the works. Each blade is futuristically design-forward but doesn’t trade practicality for showiness.

benchmade

Benchmade 407 Automatic Knife: Gorgeous — and Finally Available

An everyday tactical knife we can’t wait to test.

Olamic Cutlery Wayfarer 247 Pocket Knife Review: The Most Customizable Pocket Knife in the World

Olamic Cutlery’s Wayfarer 247 pocket knife is a production model blade that still has nearly limitless options for customization. This year, the 247 gets two new blade shapes, which only makes the choice more difficult.

The One Pocket Tool Every Knife Enthusiast Should Own

Whether you’re the owner of an expanding collection of pocket knives or the favorite that you’ve kept for years, blades need attention from time to time. CRKT’s new Knife Maintenance Tool is tiny, but it’ll…

Experts Say These Are the Best Pocket Knives of the Year

The Knife of the Year Awards recognize the best knives of the year, as voted on by more than 200 industry professionals. Here are four of the most notable winners.

A Famous Knife Maker Just Made its Most Beautiful Pocket Knife Yet

In the knifemaking world, Chris Reeve Knives is renowned. The manufacturer’s most famous model may be the Sebenza, a folding pocket knife that has become a benchmark against which many other knives are judged. This…

This Is the Craighill Desk Knife, and You Need One Immediately

The Desk Knife is just over five inches long and slightly thicker than a half inch. It’s milled in Wisconsin from a solid shaft of stainless steel, then notched every half inch to improve grip…

This New Knife Is Subtle, Futuristic and Practical

Zero Tolerance is known for working with knife makers to create forward-thinking blade designs. Its latest model, a folding pocket knife called the 0470, follows the trend while maintaining plenty of practical everyday use.

One of Our Favorite Knife Makers Has a New Collection

The minimalist designs and high-quality builds have made pocket knives from The James Brand some of our favorites. Today, the blade maker revealed its new Titanium Collection.

Premium Materials Make This New Everyday Pocket Knife Awesome

Real Steel Knives has added a new folding pocket knife to its collection. At first glance, it looks like a standard utility folder. Look closer though, and you’ll find premium ingredients that make it great.

Looking for a Tiny Fixed-Blade? This Is the Knife to Get

TOPS Knives just released a new tiny knife with a less-common blade shape geared toward maximizing utility.

This Is the Only Utility Knife You’ll Ever Need

If anyone is going to update a classic utility tool, it better be the lauded creator himself.

One of the Year’s Best New Pocket Knives Is Finally Available

If you’re looking for a new high-end EDC folding knife, this is the one to get.

This Japanese Pocket Knife is Tiny, Tough and Beautiful

Seiichi Nakamura does away with Japanese minimalism with his newest, lightest pocket folder.

For a Stronger Pocket Knife, Look to This Tiny Cleaver

Gerber’s new Flatiron pocket knife scales down one of the biggest blades, the cleaver, into something small enough to carry every day.

This Is the Most Unique Tiny Knife We’ve Ever Seen

Serge Panchenko upends all preconceived ideas about what a pocket knife should look like with the freshly-updated Coin Claw.

Two New Knives Will Make You Care About Chinese Blade Making

“Made in China” doesn’t have to signify low quality – We Knife Co. is proving that with two new knives that can contend with the best.

Exclusive: This New Pocket Knife Is the First of Its Kind

Best Made Co. and its parent company Bolt Threads have collaborated to bring synthetic spider silk into a new pocket knife.

This Cult Classic Pocket Knife Is Back. And We’re Impressed.

Featuring a new hybrid of a drop point and spear point, it’s an impressive blade.

This New Benchmade Fixed Blade Knife Features Some of the Strongest Steel We’ve Seen

The perfect knife for the outdoor and survival enthusiast.

These Two New Knives Are Designed to Keep You Alive in the Wilderness

Gerber released two new fixed-blade knives that are designed to be light and strong, which is exactly what an outdoorsman needs.

Leave It to a Pocket Knife Company to Make the Carabiner Cool

The James Brand is best known for its gorgeously-minimal pocket knives, but today it released its latest product: an everyday carabiner.

This New Tanto Knife Is Designed to Keep You Alive in the Wilderness

Gear Aid’s newest survival knife is a burly tanto that’s kitted out with everything you need to take on the wilderness.

This Iconic Knife Gets A Simple, Yet Beautiful Upgrade

The Chris Reeve Sebenza 21 is back with a new collaboration.

This May Be the Prettiest EDC Flashlight We’ve Ever Seen

Sometimes, the best things really do come in small packages.

My Favorite Everyday Knife Just Got a Subtle Upgrade

The James Brand’s tiniest knife, and the one I keep on me at all times, just received an exclusive updated handle.

This Year in Gear

Just like that, 2018 has come and gone. Take a look back at the best of what the past 365 days had to offer in This Year in Gear

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