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If you had to press us on our favorite everyday carry brand, The James Brand would certainly be part of that conversation. Since 2011, the company has been thrilling enthusiasts with its minimalist, design-forward gear that doesn’t just look amazing but is built with premium materials and forward-thinking construction. Father’s Day is a great time to stock up Dad’s EDC loadout with missing pieces from TJB’s catalog. From pens to knives to carabiners, we’ve compiled our favorite picks for gifting this year.
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The Carter
Don’t let the simple design of The Carter fool you, this fan-favorite EDC blade is about as versatile as they come. A flagship for The James Brand, this is billed as “the most advanced knife” in their catalog, which we can see right away. Boasting a corrosion-resistant 2.8-inch VG-10 stainless steel blade housed in a fully-profiled G10 Micarta or carbon fiber handle with a slide-lock mechanism, the pocket knife is beloved by longtime enthusiasts but also great for newcomers. It’s easy to use, especially one-handed thanks to the unique thumb disc design. Likewise, it supports ambidextrous carry with its deep, reversible pocket clip that’s easily removable. There are over a dozen handsome variants on The Carter you can choose from, but for our money, we love the Tidal Blue + Stonewash colorway.
The Hardin Carabiner
If your dad is a big fan of The James Brand but simply never pulled the trigger on The Hardin, now’s the time to get him the most stylish carabiner on the market. Currently available in 8 colorways, this anodized aluminum unit is more than just a pretty face but features a dual-compartment design that lets you remove it without having to risk your keyring falling out.
The Palmer
Box cutters don’t need to be sexy but apparently TJB didn’t get the memo. Available in about a dozen colorways, with both transparent PCTG and anodized aluminum options available, The Palmer falls right in line with the EDC firm’s minimalist design ethos. It houses a high-carbon stainless steel blade that deploys smoothly and can be changed out tool-free. Best of all, it’s TSA approved.
The Bolen Pen
Whether he needs to take notes at meetings or simply loves jotting down ideas he has throughout the day, Dad deserves a quality writing utensil that will last him for years to come. We’re big fans of this precision-machined stainless steel version of TJB’s Bolen (there’s also a titanium version), their first twist-retractable pen that requires two-handed deployment so it will never accidentally open in your pocket and dry out.
The Barnes
The James Brand always has a solid array of blades in its catalog, but The Barnes is their top-shelf king for a reason. The brand’s first-ever integral design, this premium EDC framelock knife has a handle made of 6AL4V titanium in a solid billet for less maintenance and comes in sleek colorway options including all-black or all-gray for monochromatic loadouts. The steel used for the 3.5-inch blade is Bohler M390 — another first for TJB — that runs on a stainless steel pivot with ceramic bearings. This grail-worthy pick is one of the best gifting blades you can find.
The James Brand × Timex Automatic GMT
Watch collabs have become increasingly more common in recent years, but few have caught our eye like the one between TJB and Timex. The companies have linked up a handful of times, but a few months back, they decided to drop a second iteration of their popular Automatic GMT in an emerald green colorway inspired by the Atlantic coastline and the forests of Nova Scotia. Fusing a decidedly vintage-looking green with modern elements such as a 41mm titanium case, the timepiece also gets you 200m of water resistance. Powered by a Miyota 9075 automatic “true” GMT movement, visible through the exhibition caseback, this limited-edition watch makes for a fantastic travel watch for discerning fathers.
