Knafs Absolutely Nails This EDC Knife Lock on the First Try. And It’s Affordable, Too

When it comes to EDC knife brands, Knafs holds a special place in my heart. It occupies a unique space in the industry, offering a blend of style, substance and (most importantly) approachability.

With one of its last major releases, for instance, Knafs tried (and, in my opinion, succeeded) to develop the ideal starter knife — a blade accessible enough for beginners that still stands up to the rigors expected by us old heads.

Now, the brand is back with another big launch in its Knafs O.C.T. This minimalist folder is significant for the brand, as it’s the first time it has attempted to build a knife with a particularly popular lock.

Knafs

Collegiate EDC

The Knafs O.C.T. (which stands for Old College Try) is significant for a couple of reasons. One of them is that this is the first solo knife design from Matt Fitzgerald, the brand’s product designer and developer.

While Fitzgerald has a bit of a leg up due to his background, this feat is still impressive. Designing a knife by yourself for the first time is a lot like navigating a minefield, in that a lot can go wrong very quickly and easily.

Knafs

But the finished product speaks for itself: this knife is stylish and sleek, balancing minimalism with character to craft a blade that offers both utility and good looks in one complete, compact package.

And yet, the novelty of its design is only a fraction of the story. There’s actually something else that’s perhaps even more interesting going on, and it relates to the knife’s suite of features.

Knafs

Magna cum laude

This knife holds the distinction of being the very first Knafs folder to feature a button lock. Before now, the brand had only done knives with crossbar, back, liner and slipjoint mechanisms.

This new lock adds a level of convenience to this knife, while also opening up the brand to a whole new realm of possibilities. To quote the brand, “If the Lander line is the Apollo missions, then the O.C.T. is the Space Shuttle program: compact, powerful, and ready to usher in the next generation of adventurers.”

Knafs

Besides the new lock mechanism, the knife has some other noteworthy features and specs. For starters, it’s a stout 5.09 inches in total, with a 1.89-inch Wharncliffe blade.

That blade is made from tried-and-true 14C28N steel, and it’s mated to an ergonomic anodized aluminum handle with a reversible pocket clip. Furthermore, two of the knife’s configurations come with blacked-out PVD-coated blades.

That’s one small step for knives, one giant leap for Knafs.

Knafs

Pricing and availability

The Knafs O.C.T. EDC knife has already been fully funded on Kickstarter more than four times over. But you can still score one (or more) for yourself, starting at just $75.

Knafs

Knafs O.C.T.

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