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WE Knife Co. Double Helix Voted Most Innovative New Knife 2018

December 6, 2018

Presented by: Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpeners

We are pleased to announce that the WE Knife Co. Double Helix is the KnifeNews Readers’ Choice for Most Innovative New Knife 2018. WE’s Slide Lock-sporting tour de force won out in a category of innovators, including the Benchmade 737 Aileron and the Spyderco Clipitool Standard.

Even at the beginning of 2018, WE’s reputation as a manufacturer of a high caliber was secure. Through their OEM work and a steady stream of in-house releases, they proved over and over again that they were capable of truly superb fit and finish. But this year they decided to push themselves even further and develop mechanical innovations as well. Thus, the Double Helix and its Slide Lock was born.

Work Sharp

WE’s in-house design team clearly loves striking designs, so it’s appropriate that the Slide Lock is a visually appealing mechanism. Usually a lock resides inside the knife, or relegated to a functional apparatus on its non-show side. But the panache of the Slide Lock is undeniable: two handle-length, coiled titanium springs laid into precisely-cut channels on each scale provide the modern knife equivalent of the see-through Game Boy Pocket: they give you a glimpse into how the thing in your hand actually works.

The chassis WE settled on for the debut of their patented lock excels as an EDC knife in its own right. Although its lock and look lend the knife a definite steampunk style, the actual profile of the Double Helix is refined, simple, streamlined – all good qualities in a user knife. A 3.3-inch blade takes it into a nice mid-size class, and the simple drop point’s all-around performance is complemented by one of the most generally competent steels available, S35VN.

It’s too early to gauge what sort of an impact the Slide Lock will have, both on WE’s own lineup and on the knife industry as a whole. But whether it becomes a company-defining mechanism or a memorable experiment, the Double Helix will be remembered fondly as one of WE’s most interesting releases in a year that has been full of them. “WE are proud but also very grateful for this recognition,” says WE European Representative Henk Hakvoort. “And WE promise: This is only the beginning; there is more to come!”

AWARDS SCHEDULE

Monday, November 26: Best New Tactical Fixed Blade 2018 (WINNER: ZU Bladeworx Shrapnel)

Tuesday, November 27: Best New Fixed Blade for EDC 2018 (WINNER: TOPS Little Bugger)

Wednesday, November 28: Best New Outdoors Fixed Blade 2018 (WINNER: Benchmade 200 Puukko)

Thursday, November 29: Best Knife Upgrade 2018 (WINNER: Ontario RAT 2 in D2)

Friday, November 30: Best New Slipjoint/Non-Locking Knife 2018 (WINNER: Isham Bladeworks Blackstar)

Monday, December 3: Best New High-End Knife 2018 (MSRP of $300 or more) (WINNER: Zero Tolerance 0470)

Tuesday, December 4: Best New Value Folder 2018 (MSRP of $100 or less) (WINNER: CIVIVI Baklash)

Wednesday, December 5: Best New Manual Folder 2018 (WINNER: Spyderco Chaparral FRN)

Thursday, December 6: Most Innovative New Knife 2018 (WINNER: WE Knife Co. Double Helix)

Friday, December 7: Best Overall New for 2018 Lineup (WINNER: Spyderco)

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