This week, CJRB and Kizer releases pushed the envelope on form while Gerber and Woxna drops brought the function.

vero engineering mini nova macroVero Engineering

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Halfway through February, the knife and multi-tool industry continues to produce a bumper crop of interesting releases.

This week was big for both US brands and Chinese ones, with notable news from Gerber, CRKT and The James Brand being matched or even bettered by eye-popping drops from CJRB, Kizer, Kansept and more.

The items below will update you on everything we’ve encountered over the past week.

To catch up on other notable knives and multi-tools, check out our rolling roundup of the best new knives and EDC releases of 2025.

Bestechman Guardian knife on gray backgroundBestechman

Bestechman Guardian

This EDC knife delivers far more than it asks for. The unique blade shape — a combination of a clip-point and a Wharncliffe — offers a long slicing belly and a puncturing point, while the handle — layered G10 — is grippy and looks a lot like carbon fiber (but at a far lower price). It also doesn’t hurt that Bestechman offers it in eight different color combinations.

SOG Adventurer LB knife on gray backgroundSOG

SOG Adventurer LB

This handy EDC knife takes the concepts behind some of the most classic, time-tested folding knives in history — the kind your dad and grandad might’ve carried in their younger years — and thoroughly modernizes it. However, even with some relatively budget-friendly materials, we’re not entirely sure how SOG manages to offer this knife at such a jaw-dropping low price.

cjrb maximal embedCJRB Cutlery

CJRB Maximal

Designed by Knife Center’s own David C. Andersen, the Maximal is intended to be the affordable all-around EDC knife. It features a 2.95-inch drop-point blade made of Artisan Cutlery’s AR-RPM9 steel, a reliable crossbar lock, a deep-carry pocket clip and sturdy handle scales made of either G10 or Micarta.

cjrb nanner embedCJRB Cutlery

CJRB Prototype Nanner

As unusual as it looks, the Prototype Nanner has the specs of a pretty respectable EDC knife. The 2.95-inch Persian-style blade is made of AR-RPM9 steel while the handle scales are G10. Deployed via thumbstuds, it pivots on a ceramic ball bearing and stays in place thanks to a Crossbar lock.

Kansept EDC StilettoKansept EDC

Kansept EDC Stiletto

Rising knife maker — and GP darling — Kansept has spun off an interesting little collection of EDC products. There are a couple of fidgety friends, a pair of pry bar/wrench gadgets and this fascinating 7.25 incher, which requires a bit of clever keying and screwing to deploy. The brand positions it as an “ice pick” and “a contemporary tool for design and artistic pursuits” but also makes reference to “misericordia” (Medieval Latin for mercy, compassion). Regardless, the 5Cr13 satin-finished stainless steel and titanium construction is a wonder to behold.

Kizer Silverwing knife on light gray backgroundKizer

Kizer Silverwing

With its latest release, Kizer looks to the future of what the EDC world might hold. For the up-and-coming brand, that appears to include some pretty meticulous machining. While this front flipper boasts some truly magnificent materials — like M390 or S90V steel and titanium — its most unique feature is its robust-yet-lightweight handle scales, which took over four hours of meticulous machining to craft.

gerber stake out spark embedGerber

Gerber Stake Out Spark

Adding pliers, wire cutters and a ferro rod to the already popular Stake Out notably boosts the Stake Out Spark’s backcountry utility, as you can now use it for light wrenching, cable cutting and fire starting. While the scissors, tweezers and file are absent from this version, most key original features remain, including the tent stake puller (duh), bottle opener, ruler, blade and saw.

Vero Engineering Nova Mini knife on gray backgroundVero Engineering

Vero Engineering Nova Mini

A pared-down version of Vero Engineering’s first MagnaCut folding knife, the brilliantly minimalist Nova Mini still has all the same details that made the original such a triumph. However, it’s a good deal smaller, cutting down the total length by just under 0.8 inches. It was a great knife before, but now it’s even better.

ka-bar coytu folder embedKa-Bar

Ka-Bar Coytu Folder

Ka-Bar has significantly updated the knife formerly known as Coypu. Now called the Coytu, it boasts a 3.5-inch drop-point blade made of sturdy AUS 8A stainless steel, an ergonomic glass-filled nylon handle and a convenient, reliable crossbar lock. Bonus features include a seat belt cutter and glass breaker tip.

Cold Steel Frenzy II knife on gray backgroundCold Steel

Cold Steel Frenzy II

With its sheepsfood blade and manual deployment, you might think the Frenzy II is a fairly traditional folder. However, the grippy G10 handle, Tri-Ad lock and 3V steel are all thoroughly modern. It’s a brilliant blend of old and new that helps this unique knife stand out among its peers.

Woxna Folding Saw on gray backgroundWoxna

Woxna Folding Saws

While folding saws aren’t exactly a new category, these ones capitalize on some technologies and mechanisms more typically found in EDC knives to make them more capable and user-friendly. Perhaps the most interesting feature is their button lock — a trendy mechanism that makes the saws safer and more innovative than others. The higher-end options also include Swedish-made stainless steel that’s more durable and easier to maintain.

The James Brand Rose Gold Collection knife, pen and capsule sitting on slate blocksThe James Brand

The James Brand Rose Gold Collection

crkt apc embedCRKT

CRKT A.P.C.

This modern interpretation of a classic slip joint boasts premium materials and thoughtful design. The 2.88-inch Böhler M390 steel blade is complemented by Fatcarbon Dark Matter handle scales. Meanwhile, the slip-joint mechanism uses the lock springs in the liners, leaving a bit more room for the blade in the frame and eliminating the protruding ledge that can make many slip joints a little tricky to get out of the pocket.

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