New 2017 Knives: Brands to Watch at SHOT Show

Presented by KnifeCenter.com

The KnifeNews SHOT Show 2017 NewsFeed, brought to you by KnifeCenter.com, kicks off Tuesday at 2:30 PM EST. We’ll be bringing you live coverage as knife companies gather in Las Vegas to unveil their new for 2017 models. Many have already arrived on the Strip to begin setting up. There will be over 50 knife brands exhibiting hundreds of new knives and each one hopes to book big orders with the retailers attending the biggest production knife show of the year. Here are some of the brands to pay special attention to:

Zero Tolerance and Kershaw
KAI-USA Ltd. provided KnifeNews readers with an exclusive teaser yesterday, but the company has yet to unveil the Zero Tolerance and Kershaw 2017 catalogs. Last year Kershaw debuted over 20 new knives in a wide variety of styles. What do they have planned this year? Anthony Sculimbrene of Everyday Commentary, who has information on at least one of their new knives, tweeted that “It contains maybe the greatest knife ever made. Mark my words—pure awesome.” It’s hard not to get excited by an endorsement like that.

Watch Kershaw’s SHOT line up carefully. It contains maybe the greatest knife ever made. Mark my words–pure awesome.

— Anthony Sculimbrene (@Everydaycomment) 6 January 2017

In 2015, Zero Tolerance was applauded for transitioning from its overbuilt roots into more EDC-friendly designs. That momentum continued in 2016 with another strong lineup, including the ZT0456, winner of the KnifeNews Dealers’ Choice Award for Best New Manual Folder 2016. KAI has hinted that the next wave of Zero Tolerance models will continue to push the envelope.

First Impressions of New Blades, New Inventions, and Long-Awaited Folders
Spyderco, Benchmade, Buck, and CRKT have all released their 2017 catalogs, but SHOT will be the first opportunity that we’ll have to show you the knives. SOG’s revolutionary new urban Baton multi-tool line and first American-made knives in years will be on display as well. We’re looking forward to getting these brand new blades in our hands.

Steel Will’s patented Ant-Lock prototypes will be on display, along with the Cutjack and more than a dozen new releases.

Kizer first started revealing its 2017 lineup in December, and this week they announced three more models. They’ve promised over a dozen additional reveals for SHOT with an emphasis on material and design variety, including front flippers and fixed blades.

TOPS’ first 2017 release, the I.C.E. Dagger, hit shelves this week and the Ucon, Idaho maker will keep up a steady pace of announcements again this year. Company President Leo Espinoza has been teasing the long-awaited BOB Folder which we know we’ll get to see on Tuesday. Speaking of highly-anticipated folders, ESEE dropped some hints about new models before Christmas. It’s possible we could also meet an Izula folder next week.

Pro-Tech’s Calmigo came out ahead of schedule, and there will be many more automatics on display at SHOT.

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More Question Marks
In 2016, Fox Knives announced a partnership with Böker to expand distribution in North America. Recent collaborations have also heightened their profile with buyers. SHOT Show is an opportunity for the Italian company to get off on the right foot with some killer new for 2017 designs.

Brands like Emerson, Strider, Leatherman, Case, Ontario, Hogue, Condor, Victorinox, Hinderer, Böker, Gerber, KA-BAR and Chris Reeve Knives present some of the greatest unknowns. But any one of them could be holding back a major surprise. You never know where the next blockbuster knife might come from.

Knife featured in image: TOPS BOB Folder