The James Brand is collaborating with sustainable materials firm Smile Plastics for a special-edition version of The Barnes LTD knife that updates its Heron pattern with upcycled inlays sourced from discarded refrigerators, stoves, microwaves and countertops.
The latest Barnes LTD upgrades the classic pocket knife with a titanium frame lock construction machined from a solid billet of 6AL4V titanium and featuring a sharpened 3.5-inch Bohler M390 steel blade. The unique handle inlays feature feathery soft gray tones, yellow hues, warm ochre flecks, and black and blizzard white in striking patterns finished with a rich, polished semi-gloss.
With a limited release of just 24 units, the luxe new Barnes LTD ($749) is aimed squarely at collectors and enthusiasts, some of whom probably already own the rarefied Damasteel version of the popular EDC knife.
“The Barnes is our flagship knife. It’s well respected in the market, but we are always looking for ways to make it new and fresh,” James Brand founder Ryan Coulter tells Maxim.
“Using upcycled materials from Smile Plastic gives the Barnes a new look and a totally surprising choice for a knife handle. People expect us to push the boundaries from a material and color standpoint. When we discovered we could make the handle inlays from byproducts of post consumer light-hued appliances, we were intrigued.
“Sustainability is a part of our story, and it’s been pretty much overlooked by the knife industry so far, but it’s important for us to be as responsible as we can be in our business, especially in the outdoor market.”
The Barnes LTD: Heron + Stainless arrives in a lacquered wooden box with a TJB challenge coin, paracord lanyard, and cleaning cloth. Aside from its uniquely sustainable design elements, the knife is also being billed as “the finest and most technically advanced knife The James Brand has ever made.”
The exclusive U.S. release is only available at thejamesbrand.com, beginning January 30t at 9 a.m. PST.