Is This the Best-Looking EDC Knife You Can Get for Less Than $50?

Bonus points for the Stormtrooper vibes.

Published November 22, 2024

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With traditionally affordable manufacturers like CRKT and Kershaw and Buck introducing more and more high-end blades of late, you’d be forgiven for thinking high-quality, wallet-friendly pocket knives were a thing of the past.

Combining this colorway with the name and product page description, Böker Magnum is clearly marketing this knife to enlistees in the Imperial Army and their fans without outright saying it — or asking Disney for permission.

Here to remind us that the reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated is Böker Magnum.

The budget-conscious branch of the 155-year-old German brand recently launched a subversive new gentleman’s folder bursting with, shall we say, far-away-galaxy energy, the Empery.

boker magnum empery full — The Empery’s stark two-toned aesthetic is no accident.

Black and white beauty

One of the best ways to increase value without breaking the bank is to improve how something looks.

That’s what Böker Magnum has really nailed here with the Empery’s elegant two-toned aesthetic. Blade, pocket clip, liner, pivot and screws are all rendered in an inky matte black, while the gridded, grippy handle scales adopt a contrasting, almost smoky off-white.

boker magnum empery in hand — Because 440B is not often used as a blade steel these days, you can call this knife “rare” with a straight face.

The overall effect is incredibly striking. Combining this colorway with the name and product page description, Böker Magnum is clearly marketing this knife to enlistees in the Imperial Army and their fans without outright saying it — or asking Disney for permission.

Not the first time we have seen this strategy — CRKT pulled a similar move with a specific colorway of the Provoke a few years back — but when a knife looks this good, we dig it.

While this knife is super affordable at $40, you still get some reliable materials, too. The 3.19-inch drop-point blade is made of 440B steel, a step up from entry-level 440A and equally adjacent to mid-grade 440C, which is known for edge retention, corrosion resistance and easy sharpening. The handle scales are durable G10.

boker magnum empery folded — These scales likely won’t stay spotless for long, but hey, clean uniforms are for benchwarmers.

The Empery deploys two ways — a rear flipper and a front flipper — and is held in place with a liner lock.

The weight is 2.93 ounces, the open length is 7.52 inches and the folded length is (presumably) just over 4 inches. That leaves plenty of room in your kit for a blaster that can’t shoot straight.