At first glance, the Elko may seem puny — it’s about the size of an average USB stick — but the tiny EDC pocket knife is packed with utility. The Sandvik 12C27 steel blade is hard, corrosion-resistant and features a one-of-a-kind drop-point shape that the guys at the James Brand designed especially for maxing out effectiveness in the smallest possible profile. Even the short keyring loop on the knife’s butt is a tool designed for prying and scraping.
In fact, the Elko traces its inspiration back to the classic keychain-style Swiss Army Knives that were designed for that same reason — but those tended to be brittle, and failed to serve as a stand-in for the bigger knives one might clip to a belt or carry in a pocket. The Elko may not replace the other knife (or knives) in your everyday life, but it’s hard to argue with so much function in such a portable and pretty — especially in a brand new all-black colorway — package. After all, as Ryan Coulter, founder of the James Brand, says, “The best knife is the one that you actually have with you.”
Editor’s Note: Want to know more about the James Brand? Read our interview with the company’s founder, Ryan Coulter.
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