On this planet of outside gear, pocket knives have change into a staple. They’re in all places, from the show instances at REI to the checkout lanes at your native ironmongery store. However with so many to select from, it may be a frightening job to seek out out which one is best for you.
In 2023, we noticed newer manufacturers like Civivi and WE Knife rise as much as tackle the likes of Benchmade and CRKT. By coming in at a lower cost level, they threw a curve ball on the trade; probably redefining what it means to be “premium”.
So! Right here we’re — your headlight within the fog — with a set of knives that we predict are the very best of the very best accessible in the marketplace as we speak. Every certainly one of these knives has been examined totally to find out why they deserve the status of being thought of the very best of the very best.
Under you’ll discover a roster of blades providing the very best mixture of functionality, building, and worth the trade has to supply. Take a look at our high picks on the hyperlinks beneath or scroll by means of to browse for your self. On the finish of our listing, make sure to take a look at our comprehensive buyer’s guide, comparison chart, and frequently asked questions.
Editor’s Notice: We up to date this text on December 15, 2023, to incorporate a number of new knives which have not too long ago impressed us in testing and plenty of new shopping for steering.
The Finest Pocket Knives of 2024
Finest General Pocket Knife
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OAL
8.46” -
Blade Size
3.6” -
Blade Metal
S90V (Stainless) -
Blade Form
Drop Level -
Lock Kind
Axis (Crossbar) -
Weight
4.12 oz.
-
S90V Blade Metal -
Ritter RST Blade Ramp -
Axis Lock
-
S90V is difficult to sharpen -
Pocket clip is under-sized
Finest Price range Pocket Knife
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OAL
8.11” -
Blade Size
3.48” -
Blade Metal
Nitro-V -
Blade Form
Drop Level -
Lock Kind
Button (Crossbar) -
Weight
3.8 oz.
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Nitrov-V Blade Metal -
Button Lock -
Ceramic Ball Bearings
-
Pocket clip might be extra substantial
Finest Mountain climbing / Open air Knife
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OAL
8.35” -
Blade Size
3.69” -
Blade Metal
CPM 20CV -
Blade Form
Drop Level -
Lock Kind
Liner -
Weight
4.1 oz.
-
Completely Balanced -
Canvas Micarta Scales -
Dimension to Weight Ratio
Finest Tactical Knife
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OAL
7.85” -
Blade Size
3.40” -
Blade Metal
MagnaCut -
Blade Form
Drop Level -
Lock Kind
Button (Crossbar) -
Weight
3.47 oz.
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DLC Battlewash coated MagnaCut Blade -
Dimension to Weight Ratio -
OD Inexperienced + Coyote Tan = Superior Colour Combo
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No indicator on the blade lock -
It’s dear
Finest Gown Knife
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OAL
5.50” -
Blade Size
2.21” -
Blade Metal
Sandvik 12C27 -
Blade Form
Sheepsfoot -
Lock Kind
Liner -
Weight
1.7 oz.
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Sandvik 12C27 Metal -
IKBS Ball Bearings for fluid deployment
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Aluminum scales might be slippery when moist.
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OAL
7.9” -
Blade Size
3.4” -
Blade Metal
D2 -
Blade Form
Spear Level -
Lock Kind
DuraLock -
Weight
3.3 oz.
-
Outdated-school D2 metal -
KVT Ball Bearing System -
Stability between kind and performance
-
It’s a really sharp fidget spinner. Ouch.
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OAL
5.95” -
Blade Size
2.49” -
Blade Metal
Cerakoted CPM M4 -
Blade Form
Wharncliffe -
Lock Kind
Auto Axis -
Weight
3.3 oz.
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Cerakoted M4 Blade Metal -
Small, however succesful. -
Auto Axis Lock w. Constructed-In Security
Pocket Knives Comparability Chart
How We Examined Pocket Knives
Out of all the issues we take a look at round Gear Junkie, pocket knives appear to get simpler and simpler yearly — as a result of everybody needs one. Suffice it to say, the knives we’ve really useful on this listing weren’t simply examined at a desk or in some random workshop within the Midwest, they have been used, abused, beloved, and carried for prolonged durations of time.
From an trade veteran like Sean McCoy to a knifemaker like Nick LeFort, and knife aficionado Josh Wussow, all the knives you examine right here inside have been toiled over and picked aside. All three of those testers are nice individuals. Enjoyable to have round. Heck, final yr’s Christmas Get together was saved off of our social media pages, by the request of HR, due to these three guys particularly. However relating to breaking down a knife’s options, supplies, and meant makes use of, there aren’t three higher individuals fitted to the job.
So what did they do?
The place you’ll find YouTube and the web peppered with individuals reducing rope and cardboard of their storage, you’re extra apt to seek out Sean, Nick, or Josh out within the woods, down by a river, or wherever their day takes them. Heck, you may even see certainly one of them wandering round Entire Meals with certainly one of these knives (of their pocket in fact). To them, testing isn’t a 9-5 job, these knives are a part of their lives. They usually introduced their expertise and their consideration to element together with these knives of their day-to-day lives.
Having a eager sense of how a specific knife metal would carry out, or how a sure deal with materials’s grip can be impacted by inclement climate, in addition to an unlimited information of what’s happening out there, they have been in a position to act and react accordingly. On these few facets in addition to many others. The tip result’s the purest type of product testing: within the second.
The underside line is that our strategy to testing is to ensure a product and its components carry out as anticipated. With advertising and marketing being what it’s, with the intent to promote one explicit knife above all the others, it’s simple to purchase into the hype. On this case, we have a look at that hype and see if it’s all simply speak or the actual deal.
Purchaser’s Information: The way to Select a Pocket Knife
Knife Metal
The quantity of knife blade metal and deal with supplies out there may be fairly spectacular. However, the place the deal with supplies appear to have stabilized, there’s new metal popping out yearly. As you possibly can see from the above choice of eight knives, there are seven totally different knife steels. Our suggestion is to think about every metal on a case-by-case foundation. However they need to nonetheless meet or exceed the next necessities:
Corrosion Resistance
The very last thing you need is your knife turning orange on you out within the subject. Particularly should you’re planning on utilizing it to organize meals. The entire metal talked about on this information both has distinctive corrosion resistance or has been coated to get rid of the prevalence of rust.
Abrasion Resistance
Some individuals take into account this property to be extra kind than operate. However in all actuality, in case your blade can simply get scraped up that may result in chipping, which then may result in blade failure.
Edge Retention/Ease of Resharpening
It doesn’t matter what knife you carry, the worst knife you could possibly carry is a uninteresting one. That being stated, you need to search for knife steels that both excel in edge retention or might be simply resharpened.
You possibly can study extra about particular knife steels right here.
Deal with Materials
When it comes right down to deal with materials it’s all about grip. Ergonomics play an element on this as nicely, as you could possibly have nice deal with materials in a bizarre form that may trigger fatigue. Ultimately, you gained’t need to use the knife and also you’ll have wasted your cash. These are a few of the extra most well-liked supplies in the marketplace as we speak:
G10 & Micarta
G10 and Micarta are each extraordinarily robust supplies. Each excel in grip whether or not your palms are moist or dry which is why these two supplies are so standard with EDC, Survival, Tactical, and Bushcraft-style knives.
Nylon & Plastic
Nylon and Plastic additionally make for nice deal with supplies as a result of they’re sturdy and light-weight, however they’re additionally typically textured. It’s this texturing and styling that will increase the grip on a knife with these supplies.
Notice: Nylon and Plastic deal with scales might be referred to as a litany of names. A number of the extra standard names are: FRN/Zytel (Fiber Bolstered Nylon), GRN (Glass Bolstered Nylon), GFN (Glass Stuffed Nylon), and Grivory (Injection Molded).
Carbon Fiber
A whole lot of of us suppose Carbon Fiber is simply fairly to take a look at, however in all actuality, this woven materials is light-weight and powerful. Relying on its composition, it might be thought of the right stability between power, weight, and sturdiness. You possibly can guess your bippy you’ll pay extra for a knife with Carbon Fiber, nevertheless it’s price it.
Aluminum & Titanium
Each Aluminum and Titanium are extremely robust and light-weight supplies which make them nice for knife deal with scales. However the place Aluminum has change into relegated to funds knives, the usage of Titanium is normally saved for premium and ultra-premium knives. The one downside to each of those supplies is that they are often slippery when moist.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is a giant deal when contemplating what knife is best for you. It will probably are available many varieties from ergonomics, to lock design, to the {hardware} used to maintain the knife collectively and in good functioning order. All in all, the very last thing you need to do is wrestle with or be uncomfortable utilizing your knife.
Ergonomics
A great knife will really feel proper in your hand. From the form of the deal with scales to the total thickness, and even texturing, ergonomics might be the distinction between you being assured together with your knife or leaving it in your drawer at house. When you think about a knife, put it in your hand and provides it a great squeeze. Then, push down onerous on a tough floor. If every part feels proper, that’s your subsequent knife.
Lock Mechanism
With out fail, you will see your self ready the place you might want to depend on the lock in your knife greater than you anticipated.
A number of the extra frequent lock sorts are liner/body locks that use a bar that indexes into the again of the blade. There are additionally button-style locks that use a metal barrel to maintain the blade engaged. Nonetheless, the most well-liked lock kind is the crossbar lock which additionally makes use of a metal bar to carry the knife in place.
In my time and expertise, I’ve by no means seen a crossbar-style lock mechanism fail with out some outdoors pressure creating a serious disruption in how the knife features. Like a truck operating it over.
Pocket Clip
The suitable pocket clip will maintain your knife in place in your pocket and can be simple to insert and take away. Typically, pocket clips are created from metal or Titanium, are designed to retain their form, and are round half the size of the knife when they’re closed.
Nonetheless, there are wire pocket clips that may deform over time. There are additionally shorter pocket clips that, relying on the dimensions of the knife, may cause it to drift round in your pocket, and even come out of your pocket.
I’d choose a wire pocket clip over a shorter clip any day.
Ball Bearings
Ten years in the past, you wanted to pay $300 to get a knife with ball bearings in it, however now you’ll find them for underneath $100.
Ball bearings help within the opening and shutting of a knife. In reality, there are some knives on the market which are so fluid in operation, attributable to ball bearings, that they’re simply as quick, if not sooner than an computerized knife. They’re additionally authorized in additional locations when in comparison with an auto.
FAQ
From opening packages to slicing up meals, pocket knives provide a wealth of utility. Quite than utilizing your fingernails, a automobile key, or half of a pair of scissors, pocket knives are a pure piece for individuals with plenty of duties on their palms. That is very true for outside fans, who take care of supplies like rope, wooden, and canvas on a regular basis.
One purpose you gained’t see on this listing is self-defense. Regardless of what some trade advertising and marketing materials would lead you to imagine, carrying a pocket knife doesn’t flip you right into a commando or modern-day gladiator. Until you’re a educated weapons professional, you’re simply as prone to injure your self as any would-be attacker. Should you really feel the necessity to carry one thing for defense, you’re much better off with a can of pepper spray. Pocket knives are greatest handled as instruments — not weapons.
Though there’s no proper reply that matches everybody and their wants, a folding knife with an total size of 8-8.5” with a blade size between 3-3.5” is good. At these lengths, you possibly can anticipate the knife to be balanced, in a position to full most day by day duties and be carried comfortably.
That stated, we all the time suggest you take a look at match the knife to ensure it suits your hand and you are feeling protected and assured utilizing it. Past that, understand that every state, and even cities, have particular legal guidelines and rules concerning knives. Be sure that to learn up in your native legal guidelines earlier than making a purchase order.
Plain edge blades are typically one steady edge and they are often nice for reducing, chopping, shaving, and slicing.
Typically, a serrated blade is a mixture of a plain edge and serrations, normally in the direction of the again of the blade close to the pivot. The advantage of serrations on a blade is that it may be used for sawing by means of limbs and cord.
General, when selecting between a blade with a plain edge and one with serrations you might want to take into accounts if you actually need it. Serrations take up area on a blade edge and are extra difficult to sharpen.
Your knife is simply going to profit you if it’s in good working order. With a fixed-blade knife, upkeep is mostly centered on holding the blade edge sharp and freed from knicks or chips as this may result in failure. With a folding knife, it could possibly get slightly extra difficult as there are shifting components that have to be maintained to ensure the knife is protected to make use of for years to come back.
Listed here are some fundamental ideas that it’s best to get right into a routine of doing to ensure your knife is dependable and prepared on your subsequent journey.
Be sure that it’s sharp!
A uninteresting knife isn’t any good to you. In reality, a uninteresting knife might be harmful. Fortunately, most knives in the marketplace have steels that you could simply sharpen with the fitting sharpener and slightly apply. That stated, should you ever have any questions concerning the blade metal in your knife and how you can sharpen it, we suggest contacting the producer.
Professional Tip: Some knife producers, like Benchmade, provide free knife sharpening for all times.
Hold it clear and lubricated!
Water, filth, and particles can all result in your knife failing on you. Be sure that to wipe your blade down and that the deal with cavity is dry and freed from particles.
It’s completely high quality to scrub down your blade with dish cleaning soap and water, ensuring to wipe it down and let it air dry. We additionally suggest coating your blade with any kind of food-grade lubricant.
Moreover, you need to guarantee that the lock mechanism and pivot are freed from particles and in working order as nicely. These might be cleaned with a Q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol, or canned air. You must all the time re-lubricate these areas after cleansing your knife.
If the knife producer recommends a selected lubricant, it’s all the time greatest to make use of that.
There was a time after we would have informed you no, however as increasingly computerized knives arrive out there, they are often.
Although they are usually costlier and is usually a trouble to keep up, the stigma surrounding computerized knives is legality. Typically talking, computerized knives are relegated to army and regulation enforcement personnel. Relying on the place you reside and the place you intend on carrying an computerized knife, as a civilian you could possibly be breaking the regulation.
That stated, we suggest you examine your native legal guidelines and rules earlier than carrying an computerized knife.
A searching knife has a single objective: processing meat after a kill. We did the analysis that will help you discover the very best searching knife on your wants and funds.
Identified by many names, a tactical knife typically refers to a hardworking, do-all blade. Right here, we evaluate the very best folding and fixed-blade knives for each funds and use.
