Benchmade Bugout 535 Opinel No. 8

Important Pocket Knife Tips

MINT USE: A pocket knife is a great tool that can come in handy for many different situations. But think about what your knife will be used most frequently. Consider a blade that is specifically designed for climbing, bushcraft, or sawing. These are all good-quality pocket knives you can carry around every day.

SERATIONS VS. PLAINEDGE – Serrations may be handy when sawing through thick rope. However, serrations will eat up precious blade space and are almost impossible to use at home. That’s why we prefer a simple plain edge. If you keep it sharp, it will almost always perform better and be more versatile than a serrated one.

If you keep your plain edge knife sharpened, it will handle pretty much any task. This is an example of the above.

LOCK TYPE – A sturdy lock mechanism on your knife makes them safer to use during rigorous cutting tasks. All of the knives on our list are equipped with strong frame, liner, compression, or collar locks to keep the blade safe and securely fixed in position when open.

SIZE AND WEIGHT: A pocket knife must be both small and lightweight enough not to cause discomfort when you carry it around in your hand, and large and sturdy enough to hold the blade and make it useful. You should aim for a size that is around 4 inches long and weighs no more than 4 ounces. in weight.

You might consider a small pocket knife if you are trying to reduce weight. However, the majority of our knives have a drop-point blade shape. This gives them great flexibility for different cutting and slicing tasks. You can find out more about this Knife Blade Shapes Comparison Guide. It compares the blade shapes of some top pocket knives. This is how a knife cuts and can be maintained. If you are interested in learning more about specific blades, check out our Essential Guide to Knife Steel.

HANDLE MATERIALS — The handle of your pocket knife is an essential component. The best knives have handles that are ergonomic, comfortable, grippy, and durable. G-10 is an excellent all-purpose material due to its lightweight and texture. But, other materials might be more appealing such as aluminum or wood.

These are the Top Pocket Knife Brands of 2021

Pocket knives are invaluable for hundreds of different tasks, and different brands have their own specialties. We take a close look at which of these best pocket knife brands will suit your needs.

Foto: Amazon.com. There are many pocket knives. You can find them in a wide range of sizes and shapes. They are great for cutting twine and cleaning fish.

A pocket knife offers a greater safety feature than a regular knife. The blade is easily folded when not in use. The pocket knife can also be folded down making it more portable and convenient to use. A pocket knife can be stored in any pair of overalls or jeans.

The hardest part is choosing the model that offers you the best performance. Here are 10 best pocket knives brands. We picked our favorite knife to highlight its strengths.

Photo: walmart.com Buck Knives Known for: One of the leading brands for field knives, its original “buck knife” design has been so widely copied that the name is synonymous with folding hunting knives.

Editors’ Choice: A classic 110 Folding Hunter Knife based on the Buck Knife. Available at Walmart, this versatile and well-balanced tool meets all of the brands legendary quality standards.

Buck Knives were first made in Kansas in 1902 by young blacksmith Hoyt Buck, who discovered a unique method for improving edge retention. Buck Knives grew over time and it is still owned by the Buck family, based in Post Falls.

Here are 2021’s Best Pocket Knives

Although a pocket knife may be useful for some purposes, it is not essential.

A good knife is indispensable. A good knife can be appreciated by anyone, not just those who are a survivalist in the wilderness or working handyman.

You can find a variety of pocket knives that fit your specific needs. After having worked with many pocket knives, our team spent hours (if possible days, or even weeks) talking to experts in the field and reviewing reviews so that we could create a definitive list of the most popular.

The Best Pocket Knives: A Blade Junkie’S Favorites

November 6, 2020 GearJunkie is eligible for a small commission if you use the links to your affiliate account.

You can’t deny it, I’m a knife-knitter. I have a large collection of pocket knives, and I carry one pretty much every day. These pocket knives are among my top picks.

The amount of knives in my collection might seem a bit overwhelming. My knives collection consists of 20 to 30 knives. Some are old and some new. A lot of knives I own filter through storage. Some only see daylight a few times each year.

Through a lot of trial and error I have found the knives that I truly love. They are always on my nightstand. I carry them around in my pocket.

They are, by definition, all my favorites pocket knives. The knives can be carried around with you every day and are moderately compact. A few of them are a little larger, and some cost just a few bucks. Other options can prove to be quite expensive.

These are not great pocket knives and I won’t be denying some.

Different types of pocket knives

EDC pocket knives: An EDC pouch knife is a simple, single-blade option to a multitool. This classic design is robust and versatile, much like a multitool. Often, this design uses a clip point, drop point, or tanto blade with either a straight or half-straight, half-serrated edge in order to provide the best all-around performance for accomplishing common, everyday tasks.

Outdoorsman’s knife. Outdoorsmen all over the world rely on knives to perform a variety of tasks. There are many hunting knives as well as survival knives that can be used outdoorsman’s knives. Every knife is unique. Hunter knives can be used to field dress game, and often have finer clip-point blades. Survival knives tend to be tougher and more versatile and often employ a slightly wider variety of blade patterns, such as drop point, clip point, and tanto shapes.

Rescue knife: A rescue knife is a distinct breed. While this model is as tough and robust as the EDC-tactical brother, they have radically differing features. Rescue knives often include a sheepsfoot and/or other blunt-tip patterns for safe cutting fabrics or other materials near flesh or bone. Some of the features most requested by first responders are seat belt cutters or glass breakers, serrated blades, extreme knife hardening, salt resistance and high-visibility colouring.

Self-defense knife: As the name implies, the self-defense knife exists primarily for use in life-threatening situations when a retreat is no longer an option. This usually straight-edged knife has an extremely durable design and is made with one purpose in mind. Fixed blades, with their thick blade design and stiffness are the most common self-defense weapons. But a folding blade might prove to be more effective or better for some uses. The majority of self-defense knife patterns rely on cutting or thrusting, including the tanto, bowie, spearpoint, and hawksbill.

Tactical knife: The tactical knife attempts to combine the versatility of an EDC knife with the capabilities of the self-defense knife. Like the fixed-blade Ka-Bar first issued to U.S. Marines in the Pacific Theater of World War II, this knife design can accomplish everyday tasks with ease, is tough enough for more demanding roles that require leverage, and, in a pinch, can be used defensively. These knives are often made with drop point blades or tanto blades, rather than more intricate patterns.

Woodworking knife: Many of us had our first knife as a pocket knife. It was either a Buck, or an Old Timer. Multi-blade woodworking pocket knives: This multi-blade design of a traditional folder usually features 2 or 3 blades, with each one featuring a different shape and length. You can use this knife as an EDC tool because it has many specialized blades, which are more versatile than any one blade. There are many blade options available, including the straight back, clip, pen, spey and sheepsfoot blades.

How To Choose The Best Pocket Knife For Your Edc

As with all EDC gear, finding the right knife for you depends on plenty of factors. A folding knife that is around 2.5 to 3 inches long will be ideal for everyday use. There are still some things you should consider.

It’s important to have the right size and weight knife. EDC knives must be lightweight and compact enough to not feel awkward when carrying them around, and large enough to allow you to use it while cutting. An EDC knife should be approximately 4 inches long closed, and 3.25 ounces in weight.

Blade shape and length: Most everyday tasks can be handled by a drop-point blade measuring 2.5 to 3.5 inches in length. The trade off with length is the longer you go, the more cutting edge you can work with, potentially making tasks easier. If the blade is too long, it can feel heavy in your hand. Shorter blades are ideal for lighter cutting tasks and seeming less threatening when using them in public.

You should check the local knife laws to see if there are any restrictions regarding length. This could limit your options. If your local laws allow you to only carry small knives, make sure to read our guide to the 14 Best Small Pocket Knives For EDC. Steel: What steel you use can influence its cutting performance as well, edge retention, corrosion resistance and ease of maintenance. This list features good knives in general. But, to find out more about specific steel types, please visit our beginners guide to knife steels. Locking system: Sturdy locks make your knife safer for cutting. There are many locking mechanisms available. Some work in an ambidextrous fashion, while others move your finger away from the blade’s path. You can learn about the most common locking mechanisms for knives in our beginners guide to knifelocks to help you find one that suits your needs.

Handle materials: Although a knife’s blade and handle are important, the handle is also an important component of the overall equation. Comfortable, sturdy, and grippy handles are important. G10 is the best all-purpose material because of its light weight and excellent grip. You might also love other materials like aluminum, micarta can, or even wood.

Styling: After considering the factors above, narrowing your search will allow you to find knives that match your style. There are many options: a tactical blade for tough work or an elegant gent’s knife that will be useful around the office. A traditional design is also available.

You now know the key factors to consider when choosing the right pocket knife. Let’s take a look through our 14 suggestions to help you get started.

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