It's that time of the month where we get to look back at the best new items that hit our
shelves in the past few weeks, and there's a lot to get excited about.
I'm David C. Andersen coming at you from the KnifeCenter, and these are the best new knives
in no particular order from June 2019.
The first is the hotly anticipated Old Hickory Hunting Knife, and ever since this was announced
at SHOT Show, you guys, myself included, have been champing at the bit for it to be released.
They've essentially taken their popular butcher knife, shortened it, and made it into a blade
that's ready for the outdoors..
Now, modders have been doing this for years anyway, so Ontario figured they'd give us
something that works right out of the box.
Like all Old Hickories, it's very affordable and it's made in America from 1095 carbon
steel with wood handles.
But even better than that is a very nice leather sheath that would be worth the price all on
its own.
With everything you get for that low price, it's no surprise that these have been flying
off the shelves as fast as we can get em in.
Next we have a couple of new Spydercos.
First is the Endela Lightweight, which joins the Endura and Delica family and neatly splits
the difference between the two.
It has all the same features that makes those two knives great: Bidirectional FRN handles,
a VG-10 blade, mid-mounted lock back, and a four-position pocket clip.
If you think the Endura is a bit too long, but the Delica's just a bit too small, you're
gonna find the Endela to be just right.
Next is a KnifeCenter exclusive, the Ladybug with Mahogany Pakkawood handles.
It joins the rest of our exclusive Pakkawood-handled Spyderco lineup, including the Dragonfly,
Delica, and Endura; and like those knives, it features a laminated HAP40 core blade.
That blade is exceptionally tough, and so are the handles as well.
They're not gonna crack or swell like an unstabilized wood product can.
And thanks to the small size of the Ladybug, it's perfect for carrying everywhere, from
your keyring to a bag to any small pocket, it's gonna be there when you need it.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, how about a couple of balisongs?
The first is the Cold Steel FGX Tanto, a new blade shape for this all-synthetic butterfly
knife.
These are a great way to get into the world of balisong flipping because they don't cost
a lot, you're not likely to cut yourself, and you're not gonna have to worry about dropping
it either.
But beyond that, they just make us smile.
If you're already a more advanced flipper, then you're gonna want to check out these
EOS Serpent balisongs.
They're as smooth as can be with excellent action.
I can't stress enough just how satisfying these are when they're in motion.
The milled titanium handles are available in several colors, and there's also no latch
to get in the way of complex tricks.
On top of that, the blades are made of CTS-XHP steel, meaning they're ready for high-performance
cutting too.
If you're looking for something that's more urban-friendly, we've got a couple of new
models that I'm really liking right now, and the first is the Benchmade 318-2 Proper slipjoint.
They've given their Proper the high-end treatment and the results look amazing.
The handles have been upgraded to carbon fiber with accenting PVD-coated liners that look
like brass, but they're not gonna corrode and they're gonna stay looking great for years.
The business end got an upgrade too, with S90V steel offering phenomenal levels of edge
retention.
This knife is gonna make a great everyday carry gentleman's knife, especially if you
prefer the simplicity of a non-locking blade.
Next is The James Brand Ellis, and what's nice about this piece of gear is that it goes
out of its way to not look like a knife, but it still does everything that you need it
too.
The handles are aluminum, and they're available in black, silver, or electric moss green.
It features two different tools: a combo edge blade coming in at just over two and a half
inches, and a combination bottle opener/ screwdriver, both made from Sandvik 12C27 Swedish stainless
steel.
The nice thing is this is actually a lockback as well, with raised humps disengage rather
than having a cutout in the handle.
We also get a bale and an integrated scraper tool on the back end.
Overall, this is just a very cool minimalist design, and I think it's a really great option
for urban professionals.
How about another fixed blade?
Like Old Hickory did above, TOPS has taken one of their popular designs and scaled it
down.
In this case, the Brothers of Bushcraft Fieldcraft Knife has spawned the smaller Fieldcraft 3.5.
It has all the Fieldcraft hallmarks in a size that's easier to carry on all your adventures.
We've got a 1095 blade with a Scandi-Vex grind, micarta handles and it even still has the
bow drill divot in the micarta, which means you can practice your primitive fire-making
techniques if you want to.
With all of these features and the included Kydex sheath and emergency whistle, you're
gonna be ready to go.
And lastly, we're gonna end with the Steel Will Tasso, which has debuted with their brand
new patented Ant-Lock.
While this may look like an Axis-style lock, it's actually a hybrid cross bolt and lockback
design, with the locking stud actually lifting up the split lock back-style backspring.
We love the ambidextrous nature of this locking system and the fact that it keeps your fingers
out of the path of the blade when releasing it.
On top of that, it's just a cool-looking knife with great materials and Italian-made quality.
We've got heavily contoured G10 and M390 steel, which is even crowned in strategic places
for comfort.
We like this knife a lot and expect this to be the first of many Steel Will knives with
this cool new Ant-Lock.
So those are the best of the new knives from June 2019.
Be sure to let us know in the comments what you think of our picks, and let us know what
else you're excited about if it didn't make the list.
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In the meantime, to get your hands on any of these great knives or to see what else
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