There are a few companies I consider the big dogs—those that have been in the game for ages and continue to produce outstanding cutlery year after year. One of those behemoths is Boker. With roots dating back to the 17th century, Boker’s history is as rich as its catalog. Their Solingen-made blades showcase traditional craftsmanship, while the Boker Plus line focuses on modern, innovative designs through collaborations with renowned designers.
Today, we're looking at a knife that’s been around for a bit but never quite got the fanfare it deserved. The Boker Plus Jive, designed by Brian Efros, is a sleek, high-quality EDC folder with clean lines and an ergonomic build. At 7.17 inches overall with a 2.95-inch blade made from D2 steel, it’s compact yet fully capable. The clip point blade gives it a distinct mini-Bowie look, adding character to an otherwise understated design.
Scott Stills is a name that’s been making waves in the knife world. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, he’s a custom knife maker with an undeniable passion for the craft. Like many, he started with fixed blades before quickly moving to folders, which were always his true goal. His brand, Edgy Bladeworks, reflects his dark sense of humor and appreciation for alternative art forms, but at its core, it’s about pushing boundaries in knife design. Scott's enthusiasm is evident in every knife he creates, and the Tipper is one he personally carries in custom form every day. His work embodies both artistic expression and practical function, and it’s exciting to see his creations brought to a wider audience through collaborations like this one with Kansept.
In the EDC world, innovation is everything—whether it’s groundbreaking materials, clever design solutions, or aesthetics that ignite a sense of desire. HX Outdoors is one of those brands that flies under the radar, lost in the flood of imported knives saturating the market. They aren’t a household name, and if I hadn’t stumbled across them myself, I might never have given them a second thought.
But here’s the thing—HX is putting out some seriously high-quality knives, and nobody seems to be talking about them. So, what do you do when you find something this good? You grab your soapbox and let the world know.
GiantMouse has always had a strong identity in the knife world—stylish, functional, and a little rebellious. The original Biblio was a hit, a compact EDC knife with great lines and an ergonomic design. But for those of us who prefer a little more real estate in our folders, GiantMouse answered with the Biblio XL—a larger, refined version of their fan-favorite design.
Social media influences our lives more than it probably should. It’s not just a way to connect with people anymore—it’s a marketplace, a never-ending stream of ads and product demos. One brand that kept appearing on my feed was JoyRaining, a knife company that seemed too good to be true. High-quality Damascus knives for under $20? That level of affordability usually screams "too good to be true," so I had to see for myself.
Who is JoyRaining?
JoyRaining is the Western-friendly name for 玖润 (Jiurun), a knife manufacturer based in Yangjiang, China—a city well known for its knife production. The company has over a decade of experience in knife-making, and the head of operations has been in the business for over 20 years. That alone gives them some credibility, but I still had my doubts. Cheap knives flooding TikTok don’t exactly inspire confidence.
For the sake of both curiosity and a fair review, I picked up two knives from their TikTok shop: a small Damascus slipjoint and a larger one with a more traditional hunting-style design.
What kind of people would write collect and review multitools? Quite simple really- we are designers and do-ers, outdoors types and indoor types, mechanics, doctors, problem solvers and problem makers. As such, we have, as a world spanning community, put every type, size and version of multitool, multifunction knife, pocket knife and all related products to every test we could manage in as many places and environments as there are.