BloodOath Instruments is a fairly new company run by two friends who are GWOT (Global War on Terror) veterans with a strong interest in knives, and experience in high-stress situations. This experience is the foundation on which their knives are designed.

Knives had been a thing since man fashioned them out of flint, but the history of tactical knife can be traced back to the 20th century when military forces began issuing specialized knives to their soldiers. The term "tactical knife" was coined in the mid-1990s. These invaluable knives were as useful at home as they were in the field, and as time marched so did popularity.

One of BloodOath's contribution to the category is the PocketFiend, a lightweight and compact pocketknife that's their answer to the EDC tactical knife. Coming in with an overall length of 7.25", and a 3.25" blade, the Fiend hits that sweet spot for an everyday carry knife. The textured aluminum handle is something unique in a market full of micarta, G10, and titanium. The aluminum has this texture on it that reminds me of the dimples on a golf ball. That unique texture gives the knife plenty of tactile grip on what would otherwise be another run of the mill handle. The choice in material also helps keep the weight down, as the Fiend comes in at only 3.81oz.

The EDC landscape has changed alot in the last decade, and among those changes are the sheer number of newcomers to the industry. I absolutely love finding these companies, what they offer, what their ethos is, and how are they going to complete in what feels like an oversaturated market. It takes a lot to stand out above the rest, let alone be heard in all this noise, one company that has grabbed my attention is Tekto Knives.

The company was born out of an outdoor excursion in the backwoods of Maine in 2016. Some of the companies early partners were disappointed with the way their knives performed in the northeastern environment. The conditions left the teams knives chipped, dull, and unreliable. This experience spawned a development  project that became what is now Tekto. They wanted to created products that would handle harsh environments, and be reliable for those who depend on their equipment.

Damned Designs is the brainchild of Adrian Dsouza, he started with fidget spinners, and went on to release over 50 spinner designs. He stepped into EDC in 2019 and subsequently released his first knife, and then maybe another 10-15 shortly after. Adrian feels great products shouldn't only be for those with fat wallets. Everyone has a right to a good design and craftsmanship.

The Oni XL model is a hard use folder with premium materials and looks that can kill. I was curious where the name Oni comes from, and it comes from Japanese folklore. Oni are a type of evil spirit known as youkai. They are often depicted as large, ugly, monstrous creatures with horns, fangs, and sharp claws. Thankfully this knife is none of that, but I can see where Damned Designs goes with their product names.