Pocket knives are inherently simple tools. They consist of a blade and a handle; they’re either fixed, or foldable. Blade shapes and edge types can vary and some pocket knives, like the Swiss Army Knife, are packaged with corkscrews, scissors and other tools. But no matter what form the pocket knife takes, it’s still a simple tool designed with purpose.
One way to riff on even the least complicated designs is to introduce new materials into the recipe, and that’s precisely what the James Brand has done with its new Titanium Collection. Titanium has long been a favored material by bladesmiths because it’s both stronger and lighter than steel and has properties that help it resist corrosion. The James Brand has used it before too, most notably in its flagship Chapter knife, but now it’s expanding the layup and creating its first materials-based collection.
In addition to the Chapter, the tiny, keychain-worthy Elko and the heritage-inspired County have been updated with titanium handles. Together, the three knives demonstrate the elevated potential for beauty through simplicity, and how subtlety can be used to underline the elegance of forms and, inevitably, materials. Existing at the collection’s core is function and practicality, which in the case of pocket knives, is how it should be.
