Being a knife fanatic, the KnifeCenter’s a great place to work, since there’s always
something exciting coming through the door, and this is the time of the month when I get
to share with you the new releases that have me the most excited.
I’m David C. Andersen, coming at you from the KnifeCenter, and these are the best new
knives and gear to hit our shelves in July 2019.
Let’s check ‘em out.
First up is the SOG Terminus XR, and this is one of the most affordable ways to get
into a knife with a crossbar style lock, and it’s a well rounded EDC to boot, with just
the right size and a deep carry pocket clip.
Now, these knives were already available with carbon fiber handles and BDZ1 steel, but these
new variants that just landed feature D2 steel with green or red G10.
It’s got an excellent, well rounded drop point blade that’s sub 3 inches, and features
a flat grind with a stonewashed finish.
And it opens 3 different ways: you can either use the flipper tap, which SOG refers to as
a Kick, the thumb studs, or you can wrist flick by holding the lock bar back.
Another new variant of an EDC stable, the Spyderco Dragonfly 2 is now available with
a Wharncliffe blade.
This model has always been great for being able to take up very little room in the pocket,
but opens up into a full enough grip to get some real work done thanks to that forward
finger choil that you see on a lot of different Spydercos.
Initially, this knife is available with FRN scales and VG-10 steel, but we fully anticipate
other variants to spawn in due course, changing up the handles and the steel selection because,
after all, that’s what Spyderco does.
Next up is actually an accessory, and these dropped at the first of the month and I immediately
picked one up for myself: the Benchmade Worksharp Edge Maintenance Tool.
This tiny unit uses Benchmade’s compact deep carry pocket clip and it folds out to
reveal a ceramic rod and a leather strop loaded with black compound.
I’m definitely a proponent of using a strop to maintain your edge, but they’re usually
too big to carry easily in the pocket from day to day, and messy, too, if you’re using
compounds.
But because of the way this thing folds up, it solves both of those problems.
With the amount of gear a lot of us like to carry in our pockets day to day, it can take
a lot to get something good enough to add to that rotation, and I think this one does
it.
Next up is a classy slipjoint straight from LionSteel in Italy, and this is the BestMan.
It has classic looks, but all modern performance with titanium bolsters and an M390 steel blade.
This is one of the nicest modernized production slipjoints on the market, and it gets a ton
of things right.
The blade has some excellent cutting geometry, and it’s got nice walk and talk, too, with
a pronounced half stop along its travel.
And it’s even got a crowned spine and back spring for a luxurious feel.
It’s available in single or multiple blade versions, and it has various wood, micarta
or carbon fiber covers so that the model can suit any style.
Interpreting the classic pocket knife style in a modern idiom, we are loving these variants
of the Zieba MS3, and they’re now equipped with beautiful and capable Damasteel blades.
The MS3 is truly a pen knife flipper unlike anything else out there, and it’s compact,
refined and elegant, just like the LionSteel we just showed you, but the MS3 also has a
frame lock and a well-executed flipper.
It has the precision of an Xacto knife, but the durability to withstand rigorous EDC.
That makes the MS3 the perfect modern gentleman’s knife.
Scaling up that aesthetic is the latest release from WE Knives, a new collaboration with Brad
Zinker, and that’s the 913 Miscreant.
We get 4 inches of S35VN steel, plenty of edge to work with, but the whole knife is
impressively lightweight, and credit goes to these slim titanium handles, that have
been drilled out to remove even more weight.
Because of that, there is virtually no penalty of weight or bulk that usually comes with
EDC-ing a blade this long.
You can slip it into a pocket and forget about it until you need to do some cutting, and
then it’ll definitely make its presence known.
Staying with the high-end stuff, the latest release from Hinderer, the Eklipse 3.0 has
been impressive.
Equipped with their Tri-Way pivot, these are the best flipping Hinderer knives I have felt
yet, and the size is perfect for everyday carrying.
I love the S35VN harpoon spanto blade, and I love the lockup as well.
Now, Hinderer is referring to this as a liner lock, but honestly it’s more like a frame
lock with thin G10 overlays.
The lock itself, just like entire knife is substantial, but silky smooth.
It’s everything you want and the perfect of what a modern Hinderer should be.
Now, I am David C. Andersen, and I am a fixed blade guy, and I’m not gonna let you down,
so here’s one for the bushcrafters out there: the Condor Cavelore.
Second only to the Terrasaur, the Cavelore is probably the most anticipated Condor release
of the year, based on their best-selling Bushlore model.
It has the same profile as that model, but it’s been decked out for a more primitive
look.
It features 1095 carbon steel, as opposed to the 1075 on the Bushlore, and it has a
Scandi grind and a flint finish on the sides.
It also comes with wood handles and wire wrapping that conceals pins underneath for enough stability,
and it’s also got a cool hidden lanyard hole at the back.
And they’ve even given it a cool primitive-style leather sheath to complete the package.
So what do you think of the knives we’ve featured here?
Is there a new product you think we’ve left out?
If there is, be sure to let us know in the comments.
In the meantime, to get your hands on any of these, or see what other models we’ve
got in, click the link in the description to head over to KnifeCenter.com, and be sure
to sign up for our KnifeRewards program while you’re there, because if there’s anything
better than a new knife, it’s getting free money for a knife you’d be getting anyway.
I’m David C. Andersen, signing off.
See you next time.
Something about “The Modern Gentleman” sounds kind of weird.
A motorboating knife, I’d stick around to see that.
That thing, when you’re talking, and you feel your mouth just making weird shapes…
See, I proved it, because I’m on video saying “I am David C. Andersen.”
Deep fake!