The Greatest Pocket Knives of 2023-2024
On the planet of outside gear, pocket knives have turn out to be a staple. They’re in every single place, 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 process to search 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; presumably 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 most effective of the most effective out there available on the market at the moment. Every considered one of these knives has been examined totally to find out why they deserve the status of being thought of the most effective of the most effective.
Under you’ll discover a roster of blades providing the most effective mixture of functionality, building, and worth the trade has to supply. Try our prime picks on the hyperlinks beneath or scroll via to browse for your self. On the finish of our checklist, make sure to take a look at our complete purchaser’s information, comparability chart, and regularly requested 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 many new shopping for steering.
The Greatest Pocket Knives of 2024
Greatest Tactical Knife
OAL
7.85”
Blade Size
3.40”
Blade Metal
MagnaCut
Blade Form
Drop Level
Lock Kind
Button (Crossbar)
Weight
3.47 oz.
DLC Battlewash coated MagnaCut Blade
Dimension to Weight Ratio
OD Inexperienced + Coyote Tan = Superior Coloration Combo
No indicator on the blade lock
It’s expensive
Pocket Knives Comparability Chart
How We Examined Pocket Knives
How a knife carries is a vital think about choosing the right one for you; (picture/Nick LeFort)
Out of all the issues we check 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 beneficial on this checklist 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 intervals 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 specifically. However in relation to breaking down a knife’s options, supplies, and supposed makes use of, there aren’t three higher individuals fitted to the job.
So what did they do?
The place yow will discover YouTube and the web peppered with individuals reducing rope and cardboard of their storage, you’re extra apt to search out Sean, Nick, or Josh out within the woods, down by a river, or wherever their day takes them. Heck, you might even see considered one of them wandering round Complete Meals with considered one of these knives (of their pocket after all). 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 enormous information of what’s happening available in the market, they have been capable of act and react accordingly. On these few facets in addition to many others. The top result’s the purest type of product testing: within the second.
The underside line is that our method to testing is to verify a product and its elements carry out as anticipated. With advertising being what it’s, with the intent to promote one specific knife above all the others, it’s straightforward to purchase into the hype. On this case, we have a look at that hype and see if it’s all simply discuss or the true deal.
Purchaser’s Information: Methods to Select a Pocket Knife
Benchmade’s Axis lock is a crossbar-style lock that’s extraordinarily dependable; (picture/Nick LeFort)
Knife Metal
The quantity of knife blade metal and deal with supplies out there’s 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 number 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. All the 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 think about 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 might 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 boring one. That being stated, you need to search for knife steels that both excel in edge retention or could be simply resharpened.
You may study extra about particular knife steels right here.
Deal with Materials
When it comes all the way down to deal with materials it’s all about grip. Ergonomics play a component on this as effectively, as you could possibly have nice deal with materials in a bizarre form that can trigger fatigue. In the long run, 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 available on the market at the moment:
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 in style with EDC, Survival, Tactical, and Bushcraft-style knives.
Nylon & Plastic
Nylon and Plastic additionally make for excellent deal with supplies as a result of they’re sturdy and light-weight, however they’re additionally usually 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 could be referred to as a litany of names. A number of the extra in style names are: FRN/Zytel (Fiber Bolstered Nylon), GRN (Glass Bolstered Nylon), GFN (Glass Crammed Nylon), and Grivory (Injection Molded).
Carbon Fiber
A number of people suppose Carbon Fiber is simply fairly to have a look at, however in all actuality, this woven materials is light-weight and robust. Relying on its composition, it could possibly be thought of the right steadiness between energy, weight, and sturdiness. You may guess your bippy you’ll pay extra for a knife with Carbon Fiber, nevertheless it’s value 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 turn out to be relegated to price range knives, using Titanium is often saved for premium and ultra-premium knives. The one disadvantage to each of those supplies is that they are often slippery when moist.
The Benchmade Freek with a carbon fiber deal with, out right here residing its greatest life; (picture/Nick LeFort)
Ease of Use
Ease of use is a giant deal when contemplating what knife is best for you. It will probably are available in many types 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 superb knife will really feel proper in your hand. From the form of the deal with scales to the general thickness, and even texturing, ergonomics could be the distinction between you being assured along 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 an excellent squeeze. Then, push down exhausting on a tough floor. If the whole lot feels proper, that’s your subsequent knife.
Lock Mechanism
With out fail, you can see your self able the place you’ll 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 preferred 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 exterior pressure creating a significant disruption in how the knife features. Like a truck working it over.
Pocket Clip
The suitable pocket clip will maintain your knife in place in your pocket and shall be straightforward to insert and take away. Usually, pocket clips are comprised of 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 scale of the knife, could 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 yow will discover 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 can be so fluid in operation, as a consequence of ball bearings, that they’re simply as quick, if not sooner than an automated knife. They’re additionally authorized in additional locations when in comparison with an auto.
A few of our favourite pocket knives laid out for testing; (picture/Nick LeFort)
FAQ
From opening packages to slicing up meals, pocket knives supply 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 quite a lot 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 cause you gained’t see on this checklist is self-defense. Regardless of what some trade advertising materials would lead you to imagine, carrying a pocket knife doesn’t flip you right into a commando or modern-day gladiator. Except you’re a educated weapons professional, you’re simply as more likely to injure your self as any would-be attacker. In the event 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 general 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, capable of full most each day duties and be carried comfortably.
That stated, we at all times advocate you check match the knife to verify it matches your hand and you are feeling secure and assured utilizing it. Past that, remember the fact that every state, and even cities, have particular legal guidelines and rules relating to knives. Be sure to learn up in your native legal guidelines earlier than making a purchase order.
Plain edge blades are usually one steady edge and they are often nice for reducing, chopping, shaving, and slicing.
Usually, a serrated blade is a mix of a plain edge and serrations, often in direction of the again of the blade close to the pivot. The good thing about serrations on a blade is that it may be used for sawing via limbs and cord.
General, when selecting between a blade with a plain edge and one with serrations you’ll want to think about 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 retaining the blade edge sharp and freed from knicks or chips as this will result in failure. With a folding knife, it could get slightly extra difficult as there are transferring elements that should be maintained to verify the knife is secure to make use of for years to return.
Listed here are some primary suggestions that you need to get right into a routine of doing to verify your knife is dependable and prepared to your subsequent journey.
Be sure it’s sharp!
A boring knife isn’t any good to you. In reality, a boring knife could be harmful. Fortunately, most knives available on the market have steels which you can simply sharpen with the fitting sharpener and slightly apply. That stated, should you ever have any questions in regards to the blade metal in your knife and the best way to sharpen it, we advocate contacting the producer.
Professional Tip: Some knife producers, like Benchmade, supply free knife sharpening for all times.
Preserve it clear and lubricated!
Water, dust, and particles can all result in your knife failing on you. Be sure to wipe your blade down and that the deal with cavity is dry and freed from particles.
It’s completely tremendous to clean down your blade with dish cleaning soap and water, ensuring to wipe it down and let it air dry. We additionally advocate 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 effectively. These could be cleaned with a Q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol, or canned air. It’s best to at all times re-lubricate these areas after cleansing your knife.
If the knife producer recommends a particular lubricant, it’s at all times greatest to make use of that.
There was a time after we would have advised you no, however as increasingly automated knives arrive available in the market, they are often.
Although they are usually dearer and generally is a trouble to take care of, the stigma surrounding automated knives is legality. Usually talking, automated knives are relegated to navy and legislation enforcement personnel. Relying on the place you reside and the place you intend on carrying an automated knife, as a civilian you could possibly be breaking the legislation.
That stated, we advocate you verify your native legal guidelines and rules earlier than carrying an automated knife.
A looking knife has a single function: processing meat after a kill. We did the analysis that can assist you discover the most effective looking knife to your wants and price range.
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