When it comes to EDC knives, I usually carry… well, not much. I am not a knife collector, and half the time I am using a tiny key-shaped “knife” that can barely open a package. So when BladeX reached out to send their new GEN-195 multi-tool, I was genuinely curious. They are a brand with a decade of behind-the-scenes manufacturing experience for bigger names, but this is the first product they have ever released under their own brand.

And honestly, I was excited to see what a team like that would do when they finally got to make something for themselves.

Most multi-tools lean toward extremes. They are either packed with a dozen functions you will never use or they are bulky, overly tactical objects that feel more like props than tools. BladeX wanted something in the middle. They focused on the 20 percent of features people actually use and wrapped them inside a compact, durable, and intentionally designed knife.

They removed the clutter, doubled down on usefulness, and added a mechanism that feels unlike anything I have used before.

The standout feature of the GEN-195 is the rotary mechanism. Instead of a classic flipper or an automatic release, the blade swings out on a rotating handle. You pull down a small lever, rotate the handle, and the blade clicks firmly into place.

Accidental opening is basically impossible because of how the lock and mechanism work together. The blade stays hidden until you intentionally deploy it, and closing it feels just as controlled. The handle rises to meet the blade before sweeping it back into the housing.

It feels clever, safe, and very different from the usual pocket knife experience.

Even though I am not a knife enthusiast, the materials here impressed me. The limited edition version uses:

If you want something more classic or budget-friendly, there is also a standard version with:

Both versions are CNC-machined to plus or minus 0.02 millimeters. They receive a deep cryogenic heat treatment, hand-finished chamfers, and a matte finish that keeps everything clean and understated. Nothing is shiny or loud. Even though it looks slightly more tactical than what I usually cover, it never crosses into military territory and still feels approachable.

They are only making 2,025 of these. Ours even has 2018 engraved on it, which is the year our channel started.

This is where things become interesting. The rotary action is fun but also brings a few quirks.

Opening the knife with one hand is possible, although it takes practice. Most people will open it with two hands. Once it is open, the lock-up is solid and very confidence-inspiring.

However, the biggest surprise is something I did not expect. It is an incredible fidget toy. The latch, the rotation, the repeated clicking, the feel of everything locking together. I have probably spent more time flipping this thing around while working than actually cutting with it.

The blade focuses on stability and edge retention. It is not an ultra-thin slicer, and that is intentional. The thicker spine helps prevent chipping and adds durability. It feels safer and more controlled overall.

Instead of loading the GEN-195 with twenty features, BladeX kept only the most used ones. You get:

The loop design is clever. It locks into place once the knife is opened, which keeps whatever you clip it to fully secure. The small drawback is that you need to open the knife to access the loop, which takes some getting used to.

BladeX put this model through an extensive set of endurance tests, including:

Considering the unusual mechanism, it is reassuring to know they pushed it this far before launch.

If you want a huge tactical knife or a Swiss Army tool with a dozen functions, this is not the right fit.

But if you are:

This knife fits nicely into that zone. It is compact, solid, and intentionally crafted.

For a first-ever in-house product, the GEN-195 shows a surprising amount of detail and care. BladeX sent over a brand guide with more than thirty pages of backstory, iterations, testing, and design reasoning. You can feel that level of thought in the final product.

Does it live up to two years of development? It depends on what kind of person you are. For the user this knife was designed for, the answer is yes. It is fun, functional, and simply different from most EDC tools in the best ways possible.

If you want to check out the Kickstarter or whatever page it turns into later, the link is below. We may also have a discount code available.

Thanks again to BladeX for sending the GEN-195 for review and supporting the channel. If you enjoyed this breakdown, take a look at the next review. I think you will enjoy it.

After the recent product upgrade, the standard edition purchased by consumers will now feature the same upgraded 14C28N powder steel as the limited edition. The regular version also provides the same blade quality as the limited edition. Their only differences are:

Once you get used to the technique, the knife can actually be opened and closed with one hand. When closing the knife, if a finger presses against the frame, the two plates may not close properly. You need to lift slightly for the knife to fold in. This issue has already been improved in later product batches, so updated versions will not have this problem.

BladeX also provides a lifetime warranty. In addition, the first 1,000 backers who purchase the limited edition on Kickstarter will get a lifetime 20% discount and an extra $10 holiday coupon.

The blade is manufactured using multi-axis CNC machining, enabling high-precision micro-chamfering on ultra-thin materials, with a minimum chamfer width of 0.1 mm. The process is optimized across tool-path control, cutting speed, and thermal deformation management, ensuring both strength and dimensional accuracy — representing industry-leading precision manufacturing.