As the concept of everyday carry becomes more mainstream, knives that don’t easily fit into the traditional tactical- and survival-oriented categories are becoming more and more common. That might equate to a knife that’s smaller and sleeker, or it could lead to something truly bizarre, like the Lyra, a “morphing nano EDC knife” that recently popped up on Kickstarter.
Closed, the Lyra doesn’t look like a knife at all. It’s flat-ish and sort of circular, and with a two-inch diameter, it isn’t much larger than a coin. The “morphing” happens when you open it; instead of pivoting backward out of a handle like traditional folding knives, the Lyra launches forward on its hinges, transforming from its circular shape to a Z shape and then to a full-handled blade.
The Lyra, which uses a Wharncliffe blade that includes a curved spine that acts as a thumb rest, didn’t pop up in a vacuum. It’s reminiscent of Serge Panchenko’s Coin Claw in its shape, and its pivoting opening action is very similar to the Provoke karambit that Joe Caswell created for CRKT. Ultimately, the Lyra proves that as the EDC segment grows, the designs may get further and further away from what you might consider “everyday.”
Gear Patrol also recommends:
CRKT Snap Lock Knife ($32)
Kershaw Scallion ($34)
The James Brand Elko ($60)
Gear PatrolThe best way to catch up on the day’s most important product releases and stories. Read the Story