The Best New Knives and EDC of September 2019

Editor’s Note: Welcome to The Best New Knives and EDC, a monthly column surfacing the latest knives, tools and any other item worth carrying in your pocket.

Welcome to September. The kids are back in school and autumn, with its perfect weather, is officially in sight. Most brands have already revealed new gear for the colder weather ahead (think fleeces and down jackets), but not all items come out in launches tied to seasonal changes. Pocket knives and EDC tools are a prime example.

The companies and designers that make these tools work year-round, and manufacturers rolling out as many as 50 new knives and multi-tools per year spread them out over all 12 months — there’s something new to check out every week. While we make it our mission to keep you up to speed in regards to all the new knives and tools, we also know that you might’ve missed a few. That’s why we’re rounding up our findings here in one concise, easy-to-scroll article.

Recently, Benchmade revealed a limited-edition folder, GiantMouse released a simple new design, The James Brand made a new version of its minimal multi-tool and more.

Benchade 818GY-1901 Mini Loco

The Mini Loco isn’t new, but Benchmade’s limited-edition version of it feels entirely novel. The blade is still a 3.38-inch drop point, and it uses the sliding switch Axis Lock, but beyond that, everything changes. Benchmade upgraded the blade steel to CPM-20CV, the hardware is all-black and the handle is python micarta. Benchmade cooked up 500 of these, all of which are available through its official dealers.

Coalatree Haswell Survival Knive

Coalatree is a brand better known for outdoor apparel and packable hammocks, and its new release, the Haswell Survival Knife, channels that outdoorsy background. It’s a bushcraft-style fixed blade made with 4.5 inches of hand-forged 1095 carbon steel and a walnut handle. Its design is straightforward, and Coalatree envisioned it to be a no-frills outdoor blade that both casual and veteran campers can appreciate. The Haswell Survival Knife is currently for sale through Coalatree’s Indiegogo campaign.

GiantMouse Clyde

GiantMouse, a company that produces designs by Jesper Voxnaes and Jens Ansø at a more affordable price, created the Clyde to be practical enough for everyday use and sleek enough for your pocket. The new EDC folder has a three-inch trailing point blade that’s made of Elmax steel, a type known for its edge retention, but is still easy to sharpen. The Clyde comes in two versions that vary by handle type: there’s a black G10 model and one with green micarta. Both include a colorful backspacer (red for the black handle and orange for the green), which doubles as a lanyard loop thanks to a cut-out at the end of the handle.

New Knives from Filson

Filson is a heritage American company, so it makes sense that it would draw on classic American knife design in three new blades. The trio is made up of two folders and one fixed blade. Both of the folding knives use a Lockback design and have mesquite wood handles; one is available with an EDC-oriented 2.75-inch blade and the other measures out to 3.75 inches. Meanwhile, the fixed-blade Skinner has a micarta handle and a 2.38-inch blade. All three use 440M steel.

The James Brand Ellis Micarta

Earlier versions of the Ellis used anodized aluminum handle scales, but The James Brand recently revealed new designs that use G10. The composite material provides a grippy textured alternative to aluminum and is also available in an all-black edition that’s marvelously sleek. The guts of the tool remain unchanged: it has a partially serrated knife blade, a screwdriver, bottle opener and scraper, all made from Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel.

Fox Knives Suru Limited Edition

The original version of the Suru won Knife of the Year at the 2018 Blade Show. It took home that prize in part because of a first-of-its-kind carbon-fiber frame lock, which brought its weight down to an incredible 2.04 ounces. This limited-edition version uses a new copper-shred carbon-fiber handle that does bring its weight up, but only to 2.75 ounces. That keeps the Suru and its 2.32-inch M390 blade ultralight and gives it an entirely unique look.

The Best New Knives and EDC of August 2019

Chris Reeve Knives updated its iconic folding pocket knife, The James Brand revealed its second EDC carabiner, Gerber paid homage to barbershop blades and more. Read the Story

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