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Aug 28, 2023

The James Brand's Newest Knife Is for Aficionados

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Classic style, made in US manufacturing and a brand-new design feature for TJB come together in

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission.

Classic style, made in US manufacturing and a brand-new design feature for TJB come together in the Wells.

One thing The James Brand is known for, besides its clean and minimalistic design, is its devotion to the process. Rather than churning out a new knife every other month, TJB has kept its selection curated and considered, thanks in part to the careful development it devotes to every new knife.

Its latest release, the Wells, is a continuation of that devotion. After spending years ideating on a back flipper design, the team at The James Brand has released what it calls "a knife aficionado's kind of knife" — with the price point to match.

The Wells mixes classic design cues with some new features for The James Brand — notably, the use of a button-lock flipper. For the unfamiliar, button-lock flippers have been gaining traction in the knife space for the past couple years — they're typically seen on automatic knives, but lately more brands are including them on manual action knives. (Which is a fun development in the world of EDC — who doesn't like to push a button?)

The button-lock keeps the blade in place; it won't deploy until you push the button, releasing the blade. Some button-locks even open and close the knife by pushing the button. Button-locks are as strong as the knife's frame, and are quicker and easier to use than a liner or frame lock.

The James Brand didn't take implementing the button-lock lightly; the brand says the concept has been on the drawing board for years, but wasn't brought to life until it could be done "The James Brand way."

Weighing in at 3.1 ounces, the Wells is 7.17 inches long overall, with a 2.9-inch Wharncliffe blade in MagnaCut steel. There will be two finishes available for the Wells: black and anodized aluminum. The aluminum version will feature 6061 aerospace aluminum scales, but both the aluminum and black version of the knife will feature a formed wire pocket clip, caged, stainless-steel bearings and anodized scales on the handle.

On the black version of the Wells, the clip and hardware will be black DLC coated with black anodized scales; the anodized aluminum version has a stonewash finish on its blade. On the black blade version, the clip and hardware are DLC coated, and on the rose gold blade, the clip and hardware are PVD coated.

When it comes to The James Brand's reputation of blending form and function, the Wells seems to hit the mark. If you're a knife expert, collector or just a huge fan of TJB, you won't want to miss this release.

The Wells is available starting today for $425.