Pocket knives are the most popular EDC items out there for everywhere everyday use. Here, we outline the 10 best pocket knives you can carry for convenience and also what you should look out for in a high-quality knife.
Pocket knives are one useful tool you should not do without as it can come in handy for almost any situation. You can cut fruit, open a package, strip a wire, spark a campfire, dress a fish, etc., as well as do your everyday stuff with a good pocket knife.
List of 10 Best Pocket Knives
Kershaw Leek Assisted Opening Knife
This is a pocket knife that gives you a mid-sized blade in a beautifully durable stainless steel case. It is part of Kershaw’s Onion line of folding pocket knives. You can choose from several different blade styles and blade steel types to match your demands.
Amazing Features
- A 3-inch blade in a 4-inch long total body.
- Has assisted opening capabilities due to the flipper bar on it’s back and the thumb stud on the blade.
- Uses a liner lock system that securely holds the blade in place during use.
Spyderco Tenacious G10 Combination Edge Blade
The Spyderco Tenacious G10 mid-size pocket folder is a knife that offers you lots of high-end features for a reasonable price. It combines high-quality G10 laminate handles with an excellent 8Cr13Mov blade. It offers a 3.39-inch long blade in a total closed body size of 4.45 inches.
Amazing Features
- It comes with a liner lock system as opposed to the mid lock that is common on many of other Spyderco products.
- There’s an innovative four-way clip system that enables you to adjust your pocket clip with just a few screws.
Ontario RAT Folding Knife
A quality blade that stands by you when it counts from the Ontario RAT series of pocket knives. A great starter knife for a newbie.
Amazing Features
- Decently made
- Takes an edge easily
- It offers you tons of value for an affordable price.
Spyderco Para Military 2 Black G-10
The Para Military 2 knife is an excellent size of knife for everyday tasks. It is one of the best folding pocket knives on the market today and a great hit for EDC. It combines high-quality CPM S30V steel with G10 laminate handles to create an excellent knife.
Amazing Features
- 438 inches long in total body size of 4.812 inches.
- Available in a number of colors as well as several blade types.
- Uses a compression style locking mechanism and prominently features Spyderco’s trademark Round Hole opening system.
SOG Flash II Spring Assisted Knife
The SOG Flash II Spring Assisted Knife is designed with a reversible two-point clip and is a good knife option with a good price range. It uses the SOG Assisted Technology system to instantly open the blade as you move it while it still complies with most state laws.
Amazing Features
- 5 inches long in a total body length of 4.5 inches, which puts it in a full-size folder category.
- Available in a number of different blade options.
- Made from AUS-8 steel.
Benchmade Barrage 580 Drop-Point
If you are looking for a full-size knife from a top-notch manufacturer, choose the Benchmade Barrage series. This is a full-size pocket folder that includes the company’s AXIS assisted opening system.
Amazing Features
- Designed with a 3.6-inch long blade and a total closed length of 4.75 inches.
- The blade is available in straight or serrated versions and is made from 154CM blade steel.
- The AXIS system enables you swiftly and easily deploy and close the blade one-handed.
- Comprises of a better lock system.
Spyderco Endura4 Lightweight
For those who have never bought a higher-end folding pocket knife before, the Endura 4 is a great place to start. This knife gives you a 3.75-inch long blade in a total body length of 5 inches. This makes for a big folder while giving you a lot of blades to work with.
Amazing Features
- Made from Japanese VG10 blade steel and is available in several blade styles.
- A mid lock allows for easy locking and unlocking of the blade with just your thumb.
- Puts a bi-directional grip pattern on the handle to offer you a firm yet comfortable grip for continuous use.
Benchmade 940 EDC Manual Open Folding Knife
Combining high-quality materials with a slimline design for a stylish yet durable pocket knife, the EDC pocket knife is one of the originals amongst the EDC pocket knives line.
Amazing Features
- Has a 3.4-inch blade in a 4.47 inch long closed body.
- The blade is made from CPM-S30V stainless steel.
- Available in several different styles.
- Designed with the AXIS locking system that enables you easily and safely open and closes it one-handed.
Spyderco Pacific Salt
This Spyderco pocket knife is designed to resist rust and corrosion even in the most challenging environments. This knife is ideal for those who spend a lot of time in the sun and surf, as it uses a quality PH hardened H1 steel to avoid rust and corrosion.
Amazing features
- It has a 3.812-inch long blade in a total closed length of 4.875 inches.
- Uses a mid lock system for a securely opened blade and has both Spyderco’s trademark Round Hole opening design and a lanyard hole for extra carry options.
Kershaw Blur Pocket Knife
If you are considering a high-quality pocket knife at a very reasonable price, you should go for the Kershaw Blur pocket knife. Made from durable anodized aluminum, the Blur is one of Kershaw’s premium line of folding pocket knives.
Amazing Features
- Has a 3.4-inch long blade in a total closed body length of 4.5 inches.
- It gives you the option of choosing between several different blade styles and steel types and multiple finish options.
- Comes with Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening system in its a design which enables you to quickly open the Knife with the flipper bar or ambidextrous thumb stud.
- Uses a liner lock for safety when in use.
10 Best Pocket Knives Buyers Guide
Buying a good pocket knife does not just end with the price. It spans well beyond that to include other necessary factors like blade length and steel quality, ease of use and intended use, handle comfort and material, appearance/blade shape, knife development mechanism, knife pivot, and warranty.
We are going to be taking a look at these factors to help you make an informed pocket knife decision.
Price
Depending on the quality of pocket knife you wish you carry, you should expect to spend at least $20-$30 on a pocket knife of good quality. Although you can still get a pocket knife for a lesser price, it pertinent to note that you may be buying a sub-standard product. For most people also, somewhere around $100, can purchase a good folding knife that can last for years to come given proper care. In as much as price is not everything when it comes to purchasing a good pocket knife, it still plays a major role when it comes to getting a good quality knife.
Blade Length and Steel Quality
Another thing to factor in when buying a pocket knife is the blade length and quality. Ensure you know your state and local laws as regards the blade length before you make a knife purchase to know what separates a tool knife from a knife as a weapon.
When it comes to the steel quality, more expensive steels have carbon content and slightly different alloy makeup that makes the steel harder and potentially more corrosion resistant. High-end steels can be sharpened to a razor edge and can hold that edge longer than cheaper steel. On the other hand, high-end steels are more difficult to sharpen properly if you have no experience.
Ease of Use and Intended Use
Here, it depends on the task you need the Knife for. Thus the best possible pocket knife varies from person to person.
Handle Comfort and Material
When it comes to handling comfort and material it is different strokes for different folks and boils down to what type of knife you are looking for and what you intend to use it for. Let the comfort you need to guide you to a knife handle that grips your hand well and is comfortable to hold.
Appearance/Blade Shape
Your knife appearance should fit the image you want to present to the world. If you intend to make everyday simple use of it, you should go for a knife that gives you a large amount of working space, easy to sharpen and maintain and a knife that looks less aggressive. As knife owner, it is important to consider the intentions of your knife before you take it out because to many people knives are seen as weapons to matter the size.
Knife Pivot
Choosing a high-quality blade from a well-recognized manufacturer gives you much faith in your knife’s pivot point.
Warranty
Before you make any knife purchase, it is very important to look up the support offered by the manufacturer. Most top companies offer a 20 to 25 year or lifetime warranty on parts and craftsmanship which covers for genuine defects or poor quality materials. Note, however, that this does not cover damage from misuse. So make sure you check you out the coverage before you commit your money to it.
Final Thought
Importantly consider what you want to use your knife for, where you are carrying it, the amount you wish to spend on it, your state and local laws guiding the Knife of your choice and the brand you wish to buy from to make the best pocket knife decision for your needs.