The Best Minimalist EDC Utility Knife Just Got Even Better in Several Major Ways

RiveryMFG’s Zero was already one of the best razor-based cutting tools on the market. With this new version, it’s practically unbeatable.

RiveryMFG Zero G EDC Utility Knives closeup

By Sean Tirman

Published 19 hours ago

·

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of using a RiveryMFG Zero EDC utility knife, let me tell you: you’re missing out. Say what you will about folding knives, but where razor-based utility knives are concerned, few are quite as well-designed and satisfying as the Zero.

But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Or at least it wasn’t. Now, with the release of the RiveryMFG Zero-G EDC utility knife, it’s much, much closer.

RiveryMFG Zero G EDC Utility Knife in hand — The Zero-G is just 3.7 inches long when closed, making it super easy to slip into your EDC rotation.

Slide on into your EDC

Would you believe me if I told you that the Zero-G is completely screwless? You’d have to, because it’s the truth. And that makes its design, especially its deployment mechanism, all the more impressive.

There’s a sliding panel on the front of the handle. Push it upward until you hear (and feel) a satisfying click, and the razor blade extends from inside. It’s as smooth as butter.

With the blade extended, it’s highly secure and ready for any cutting task. When you’re done, you pull back slightly on that same panel, and the blade retracts back into the handle with a snap. Since it’s spring-loaded, the action is faster than the human eye can see.

Not only is it incredibly fun and cathartic, but it’s also fidget-friendly, in the same way using an automatic car window for the first time is (except your dad isn’t here to yell at you about it).

While this mechanism existed in the original Zero, it’s been further refined in the Zero-G to make it even more deliberate, smooth, and tactile.

RiveryMFG Zero G EDC Utility Knife open — As you can see, this knife is incredibly sophisticated in its balance between simplicity and functionality.

Aluminum falcon

Okay, so comparing the Zero-G to the Millennium Falcon may not be the best metaphor. After all, the Zero-G is a lot sleeker than the Falcon, though there is something futuristic about it (I know, I know: A long time ago…).

For starters, it’s machined from solid aluminum, which makes it incredibly durable but also lightweight — some of the best EDC knives from major manufacturers use similar aluminum in their handles. It also means it comes in a wide variety of colors, including silver, black, blue, red, purple and a few others (including my favorite: Blood Spatter).

As mentioned, it’s screwless, so it has no hardware to worry about when you need to replace the blade, perform maintenance and so on. It also has an integrated, spring-loaded pocket clip, which makes adding it to your EDC an incredibly simple prospect. Plus, it has a handy lanyard hole (if that’s your thing).

And the cherry on top of the cake: it’s manufactured entirely in the USA. I genuinely cannot sing this utility knife’s praises loud enough. It’s spectacular.

RiveryMFG Zero G EDC Utility Knife in pocket — The spring-loaded integrated pocket clip is a handy new addition.

Pricing and availability

There’s a lot to love about the RiveryMFG Zero-G EDC utility knife, but one of the highlights is its entry price: just $85. The project is currently live on Kickstarter, but it has already blasted past its goal nearly nine times over (and it only launched today).