This Forward-Thinking EDC Knife Revolutionizes an Iconic Lock
Thanks to its innovative new mechanism, TJ Schwarz's Enduro has been known to sell out minutes after small-batch drops.
If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more
A few months ago, esteemed Idaho-based knife maker and designer TJ Schwarz posted a 16-minute YouTube video entitled "A New Type of Cross-Bar Lock | The Enduro."
Calmly talking and demonstrating to the camera with minimal production, Schwarz explained what makes the mechanism on his new knife monumentally tougher than the typical crossbar setup .
Idaho knife designer TJ Schwarz brought 14 years of knifemaking experience to the Enduro, which returns tonight at a retail price of $285. - Credit: Schwarz Knives
He later released the first batch of Enduros, and it sold out in minutes, with subsequent drops often following a similar script.
With another drop coming tonight, consider this your heads up.
Tougher than the rest
While the Enduro is formidable in many ways, the key to it living up to its name is its proverbial beating heart, the crossbar lock mechanism.
The product of 14 years of folding knife design experience and loads of R&D, the patent-pending mechanism meaningfully improves upon the existing design with a much more robust spring.
The Enduro replaces the standard Omega spring with a much larger, hand-bent clip spring that promises a more secure lockup and a much longer lifespan. - Credit: Schwarz Knives
You do not have to watch the entire video; just check out this screen grab of Schwarz comparing the standard Omega spring (left) to the thicc boi he's wedging under the scales.
Dwarfing the former, the hand-bent clip brings to mind the beefy cotter pins used in many automotive and hardware applications.
The light hump you must surmount when pulling back the lock bar only boosts the unique appeal.
Schwarz's patent-pending crossbar lock mechanism is the Enduro's defining innovation, the result of years of R&D that goes well beyond the conventional design. - Credit: Schwarz Knives
"There's more force on the blade, resulting in a better, stronger lockup, and then the let-off," Schwarz explains. "So it just feels … different."
In addition to reduced spring fatigue and improved ergonomics, the overall beefiness points toward unprecedented longevity.
To go beyond simply making this claim, Schwarz built a device to continuously cycle test it; as of an early July update, the test unit had completed 95,000 reps and counting.
As of an early July update, the Enduro's test unit had completed 95,000 open-close cycles without failure. - Credit: Schwarz Knives
In other words, you could spend your entire life opening and closing this knife and the mechanism would never, ever fail.
I'd be remiss not to mention that Schwarz completes the 3.7-ounce package with some pretty compelling counterparts.
The upcoming drop features hunter orange G10 scales with a sandblast texture, a bold colorway that also makes the knife easy to spot in a bag or on a workbench. - Credit: Schwarz Knives
The blade is a stonewashed 3.3-inch drop-point/sheepsfoot hybrid made of MagnaCut super Steel, unrivaled for its blend of toughness, corrosion resistance and edge retention.
The handle scales are light but tough G10 with a sand blast textured finish and a hunter orange hue for the upcoming drop.
The Enduro's blade is made from MagnaCut super steel, widely regarded as unrivaled for its combination of toughness, corrosion resistance, and edge retention. Made of titanium, the no-nonsense pocket clip is also a banger. - Credit: Schwarz Knives
The liners are hardened stainless steel, the hardware is stainless steel and titanium (with phosphorous bronze washers) and the pocket clip is titanium too.
What else can I tell you? Oh, this new one is dropping alongside a couple of fixed blades at 8 p.m. EST tonight. If history is any indication, that's the time to add to your cart.
Availability and pricing
The Schwarz Knives Enduro (Hunter Orange) will be available tonight for $285. Should you miss it, you can sign up here to get an alert when the next drop is coming.
Schwarz Knives Enduro (Hunter Orange)
About the Author:
Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men's Health, Men's Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone's bike seat is at the proper height.
Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.
