Tag Archives: The James Brand

The James Brand’s sharp Christmas tree ornament doubles as a tactical Ninja Star

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There are Christmas ornaments and then there is The James Brand Throwflake. This ninja star (or Shuriken star to be precise) is designed to be ready this Christmas for Home Alone action in case those buggers slide down the chimney with bad intentions.

You are going to get a lot of questions asked about this one hanging from your tree though. That said, it’s always better to safe rather than sorry. Yes, you can use this collectible by TJB as your make-shift defense weapon to catch goons off guard. Don’t let your kids anywhere near this one and hang it up high on the Christmas tree, because you know, kids can be unpredictable!

Designer: The James Brand

The Oregon-based everyday tool maker wants to give modern explorers a reason to sit back for a while and enjoy the Holiday spirit with loved ones. They even give a warning for keen buyers not to use this as a weapon post the Christmas celebrations since it has “6 very sharp” points. That signals the ninja star could be as good as a knife, good enough to cut through objects like wood or even tin cans. This could also double as a defense tool out in the wild where anything handy in the pocket is critical.

The snowflake-shaped EDC cum ornament comes with a lanyard to hand onto the tree and it does impress with its sheen. Off the holiday tree and this becomes your secret weapon or tool in uncharted territory. For a price tag of $40, The Throwflake is hard to miss and TJB sure knows how to keep up with the holiday fun. So, are you going to get this one for your Christmas tree?

The post The James Brand’s sharp Christmas tree ornament doubles as a tactical Ninja Star first appeared on Yanko Design.

Feast Your Eyes on this Delightfully Minimal Pocket Knife from The James Brand

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While most EDC knives try to cram every possible tool and feaure into their designs, The Wells from The James Brand is the absolute opposite. A masterclass in minimalism, The Wells is a pocket flipper that’s all about visual purity, opting for a sleek MagnaCut stainless steel blade encased within a clean, minimalist Aluminum 6061 handle. Barring the thin pocket clip on one end, a button lock, and The James Brand logo, nothing interferes with The Wells’ aesthetic. The result is something so pristine it looks precious, and like the kind of EDC you’d carry in the pocket of your expensive suit rather than with run-of-the-mill outdoor clothes.

Designer: The James Brand

Available in a silver or even a special all-black variant, The Wells embodies the clean elegance of a ‘gentleman’s EDC’. The American-made flipper features a slick handle that’s reliable to hold onto thanks to a bead-blasted texture, along with a sheepsfoot/wharncliffe blade that flips out effortlessly with the flick of your finger. Measuring 2.875″ / 7.3cm, the blade has a gently curved edge that’s great for cutting, slicing, shearing, whittling, and even gently rocking while you chop away. The point at the edge of the sheepsfoot blade gives you the ability to pierce through objects, packets, boxes, tapes, and plastic film easily, letting you then slice right through.

The knife comes with a sweet flipper action and a button lock that reliably keeps the blade open when in use. Deployable with a single stroke, the blade slides out ever so gracefully thanks to the stainless steel caged ball bearing mechanism, and can be made to retreat back into the handle by pressing the button. Counter-sunk screws hold The Wells’ two-part handle together, as well as a minimalist pocket clip that lets you easily slide the EDC into your pants or breast pocket for carrying around with you. There’s no carabiner hole on this because The Wells is a little too dignified for a carabiner. Moreover, carrying it with your keys or other tools would be kind of a sacrilege considering The Wells has rather solo-performer personality.

The Wells gets its name from the Wells projectile point found in Cherokee County, Texas. Named after one of the first American-made implements, The Wells is also James Brand’s first true flipper knife, paying tribute to its heritage. The knife starts at $425 for the silver variant, or you can splurge a little more to get the all-black model for $439.

The post Feast Your Eyes on this Delightfully Minimal Pocket Knife from The James Brand first appeared on Yanko Design.

The James Brand’s latest pocket knife has a gorgeous Acetate handle inspired by haute eyewear

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Although an unusual material choice for EDC, Acetate (colloquially also referred to as ‘shell’) is one of the most used materials in eyewear, lending an undeniably retro-inspired fashion taste to the category. In The James Brand’s latest Elko pocket knife, the Acetate handle does something similar – it elevates the EDC to new heights, turning it from an essential tool into an accessory you’ll want to flaunt.

The James Brand’s knives have always been a class apart, prioritizing their signature minimalist aesthetic over trying to look rugged or dangerous (no wonder it ranks in the top 5 EDC brands). In a world where EDC knives try to look military-inspired or tactical, The James Brand’s knives have aspired to be objets d’art. The Elko knife is no different.

Designer: The James Brand

With its small size and demure appearance, the Elko is the kind of knife you really tend to underestimate and then be surprised by – sort of like watching a 5-foot lady in a floral dress punch the lights out of a 6’6″ burly mugger. The James Brand’s smallest knife, it measures a measly 2.6 inches when closed, opening to 4.33 inches when you flip the Sandvik 12C27 steel drop-point blade out. Despite its tiny footprint, the Elko is a powerful tool to have with you and fits right around your keychain.

On the reverse side of the blade is the Elko’s steel pry-bar/scraper-tool which also has a hollow cutout to let you attach the knife onto a lanyard or around your keychain. Between them is the Elko’s petite handle, which comes in either aluminum or this gorgeous acetate finish.

Acetate is also a material your skin is naturally comfortable with. If you wear ‘shell’ frames, they sit on your face for the majority of your day, without really affecting you or even succumbing to the oils that your skin produces. Sure, its smooth finish would feel counterintuitive on a handle (which could end up being a little slippery), and that’s perhaps the only fault I’d have with the Elko. Maybe a microtexture or just a few lines would do wonders toward making this visually beautiful knife just the right amount of enjoyably tactile too!

The post The James Brand’s latest pocket knife has a gorgeous Acetate handle inspired by haute eyewear first appeared on Yanko Design.

The James Brand Damascus Chapter Knife looks literally and figuratively ‘sharp’

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The Chapter remains perhaps one of my most favorite knives ever. This is in part because they’re designed by The James Brand, a company that gets that sharp knives don’t need to look aggressive or tactical, and that they can channel a much more dapper aesthetic. Their knives sport a much more classy, urbane design language, and look like something a secret spy like James Bond would carry in his tuxedo (that’s not why the company is called James Brand, but it would make a great story).

The Chapter gets the distinction of being a knife I love sheerly for its simplicity. It doesn’t overdo any element, and everything is measured, collected, and ‘just right’. Then comes the Chapter’s Damascus Steel Edition, which somewhat feels like ‘classic’ meets ‘exotic’.

Encased in the black-oxide coated stainless steel casing with a titanium frame lock construction lies the blade, a drop-point straight blade made from Damascus steel. The drop-point makes the blade work wonderfully for piercing, while the blade’s straight edge works well for cutting and slicing. Sitting atop the stunning blade like a crown jewel is a lime green button that lets you deploy the blade from its folded position. Measuring at just 3.75 inches when closed, the Chapter fits into pockets rather comfortably, and a pocket-clip secures it to your pocket fabric, keeping it easy to access whenever you need. Designed with the aesthetic that works wonderfully both indoors and outdoors, the Chapter Damascus Knife’s matte stainless steel casing tells one story, but flip the marbled, Damascus steel blade open and you’ve got a contrast that’s definitely worth admiring for years to come.

Designer: The James Brand

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This titanium multitool nails the basics

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The James Brand was established for the pure reason that there are some problems that involve getting your hands dirty. Some solutions involve having the right tool on you and the Halifax was designed to be a solution to some pretty basic problems. Its simplistic design comes machined from a single titanium billet, and has a design that’s easy to hold, store, and even operate.

The Halifax comes with three rather rudimentary functions that you’re bound to require a tool for. A flathead screwdriver on the front lets you loosen or tighten screws on your gadgets and outdoor equipment, while its solid titanium construction even lets you use it as a scraper, taking tough coatings off surfaces like a knife moving through butter… all without getting a single scratch. Right underneath the tool also lies a bottle-opener with a rather interesting cap-holding design detail that stands out in its chrome finish.

Designer: The James Brand

Click Here to Buy Now: $50

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Click Here to Buy Now: $50