THE Best Fixed Blade Survival Knives in 2024

The Best Overall/Best All-Around Knife : Morakniv Eldris [Buy]
The Best Tactical Fixed Blade Knife: Toor Knives Viper [Buy]
The Best Bushcraft Knife: ESEE-4 [Buy]
The Best Survival Knife for Water: Spyderco Subway [Buy]
The Lightest Fixed Blade Knife: Buck Knives 635 Paklite 2.0 Cape Pro [Buy]

The Best Overall/Best All-Around Knife	The Best Tactical Fixed Blade Knife	The Best Bushcraft Knife	The Best Survival Knife for Water	The Lightest Fixed Blade Knife
Morakniv Eldris	Toor Knives Viper	ESEE-4	Spyderco Subway	Buck Knives 635 Paklite 2.0 Cape Pro
CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE
Pros	Pros	Pros	Pros	Pros
• Very inexpensive • Scandi grind for ease of maintenance • Included polymer sheath • Comes with a firestarter	• Retainer ring ensures total grip control • Ultem is a hot new option, but also comes in G-10 • Included Kydex Sheath • Made in the USA	• Tried and true model and design • 3D contoured G-10/Micarta handle • Plenty of variations • Included polymer sheath • Made in the USA	•True rustproof steel • Saber grind blade • Extra-large finger choil • Included Boltatron sheath • Lightweight	• Premium S35VN steel not usually seen on fixed blades • Only 1.59 oz • Partially skeletonized tang • Removable Micarta scales • Included Polyproplene sheath
Cons	Cons	Cons	Cons	Cons
• On the smaller side which might not suit heavier tasks	• Tactical design may not be best for stricter locales	• N/A	• Sub-3″ blade may not suit heavier tasks	• Sub-3″ blade and lighter heft may not suit heavier tasks
Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line
Whether you are looking for a handy camping knife or something for everyday carry, the Morakniv Eldris Fixed-Blade Pocket-Size Knife is large enough to be useful but small enough to stay compact.	The Toor Knives Viper is a small but mighty tactical fixed blade that’s built to go the distance. From its D2 steel blade to its Ultem handle and black Kydex sheath, it’s designed to last, and the attention to detail is seriously impressive.	Smack in the middle of the ESEE lineup, the ESEE-4 strikes a sweet spot for many. It’s not as compact as the ESEE-3 and not as hefty as the ESEE-5, making it a versatile choice.	Unlike older knives marketed as truly rust-proof, LC200N has higher maximum hardness and edge retention, making for a sharper blade that will last longer than vintage Spyderco Salt blades.	Weighing in at only 1.59 ounces, the Buck Knives 635 Paklite 2.0 Cape Pro is even lighter than some compact folding knives. The primary focus of this compact hunting knife is ultralight hiking and survival. It lets you carry a full-size knife without full-size bulk.
SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS
Blade Length:	Blade Length:	Blade Length:	Blade Length:	Blade Length:
2.20″	2.78″	4.50″	2.80″	2.87″
Blade Steel:	Blade Steel:	Blade Steel:	Blade Steel:	Blade Steel:
Recycled Swedish stainless steel	D2	1095 Carbon Steel	LC200N	S35VN
Handle Materials:	Handle Materials:	Handle Materials:	Handle Materials:	Handle Materials:
TPE-rubber	Ultem	G-10	FRN	Micarta

The Best Overall/Best All-Around Knife: Morakniv Eldris

The Morakniv Eldris wins my pick for the best overall fixed-blade knife because its size makes it the easiest to carry, and it features solid construction with a rich pedigree that makes it a competent tool you’ll want to use even when your life isn’t on the line. Where most fixed-blade knives are big and bulky, the Morakniv’s 2.3″ blade makes it pocketable, so long as you keep it in its included sheath. But don’t mistake its compact size for lack of ability. Morakniv has a rich history of making some of the best outdoors and bushcrafting blades in Sweden, and the Eldris features Swiss stainless steel with the hallmark Scandi grind that makes for excellent sharpness across the entire edge. The blade’s spine is ground to be compatible with a fire starter, and the ergonomic polymer sheath is easily held with either hand, thanks to its symmetrical shape.

The best thing about Morakniv, though, is the depth of their catalog. If you need a bit of a bigger blade for heavier tasks, there are models like the Garberg with its 4.3″ carbon steel blade that would make for a more robust pick. Our outdoorsy friends over at Field Mag have the Garberg as their choice for the best overall survival knife for bushcraft activities, and we couldn’t agree more.

The Best Tactical Fixed Blade Knife: Toor Knives Viper

You’ll have to train to use the retention finger ring at the back of the knife to fully use the Toor Knives Viper. But that’s something you should consider when carrying a blade for tactical purposes. That hole is designed to let you grip the blade with a finger through the tang itself. This makes it harder for the blade to fall out of your hands in a defensive situation. It also allows for fine manipulation and control over the D2 tool steel blade. The Toor Knives Viper also has a secure Kydex sheath mountable on a belt or webbed gear with the right adapters.

The Best Bushcraft Knife: ESEE-4

Randall’s Adventure created the ESEE-4 and its brethren for their renowned escape and evasion courses for the US Military. Their bulletproof design makes them perfect for outdoors and bushcraft survival activities. You can baton the ESEE-4 through wood blocks and logs to make them more manageable for fire starting. I recommend this blade’s 1095 Carbon Steel version because it stands up well to that kind of abuse compared to the S35VN version. While it is more susceptible to rusting, proper care of the blade will reward you with solid performance.

The Best Survival Knife for Water: Spyderco Subway

The Spyderco Subway‘s standout feature is the use of LC200N stainless steel. This unique stainless steel will truly not rust, no matter what you try to do. But unlike older knives marketed as truly rust-proof, LC200N has higher maximum hardness and edge retention, making for a sharper blade that will last longer than vintage Spyderco Salt blades. The Subway Bowie was also designed by the famous French custom knifemaker Fred Perrin. His designs have an eye towards defensive martial arts use, and the deep index finger cutout in the fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle makes it easy to plunge the Spyderco Subway into any rough material.

The Lightest Fixed Blade Knife: Buck Knives 635 Paklite 2.0 Cape Pro

Weighing in at only 1.59 ounces, the Buck Knives 635 Paklite 2.0 Cape Pro is even lighter than some compact folding knives. The primary focus of this compact hunting knife is ultralight hiking and survival. It lets you carry a full-size knife without full-size bulk. Buck keeps the weight low with a skeletonized tang, but keeps the knife premium by using CPM S35VN steel. I also like that Buck included a canvas Micarta inlay into the blade, giving you enough grip without adding too much weight. Other knives in this ultralight category forgo this, making them lighter on the spec sheet. But for practical use, you’ll have to wrap the skeleton handle with rope or leather, making it heavier and defeating the whole purpose of having an ultralight survival fixed blade knife on hand.

Our other recommendations

KA-BAR Becker BK2: KA-BAR’s Becker BK2 is a combat survival fixed-blade knife made from the minds who brought you the venerable KA-BAR military-issue bayonet. The Becker BK2 has a more beefy handle and a full tang carbon steel blade designed by custom knifemaker Ethan Becker and made in the United States.

Gerber Terracraft Micarta: Gerber has updated their made-in-the-USA Terracraft with a canvas Micarta, allowing all-weather usage in the rain and slippery conditions. Its thick S30V blade with a 90-degree spine adds to sturdiness and makes it easier to use on Ferro rods to start campfires.

CIVIVI Elementum Fixed Blade: You might have heard of the CIVIVI Elementum folding blade, and this fixed-blade version of the knife takes the ergonomics of the original folder and puts it into a rock-solid full-tang Damascus steel construction. This mini version also has a bead necklace suitable for neck carry with the included custom-fit Kydex sheath.

Tops Knives Mini Tom Brown Tracker: You can’t talk about fixed-blade survival knives without including the TOPS Mini Tom Brown Tracker, with its radical variable geometry knife blade and aggressive saw back. This knife is ready to do everything, from chopping branches, slicing game meat, and sawing through wood in no time.

Benchmade Anonimus: When your everyday survival carry needs are extensive, you’ll need a fixed-blade knife like the Benchmade Anonimus, with an outsized 5″ CPM CRU-WEAR steel forged to withstand extreme use and constant wear before requiring maintenance. This American-made knife also features a textured G-10 handle and an extended blade guard, which helps ensure a safe grip on the blade at all times.

The James Brand Abbey: If you’re looking for something more minimal, the Abbey from The James Brand is a compact, utility-oriented fixed-blade knife with an attractive rosewood inlay and a leather sheath that can be worn around your neck, kept in your pockets or integrated into your keychain with the lanyard hole built into the handle of the blade. 

WE Knife Co. Quark: Some people need a sharp knife to open boxes regularly, and the WE Knife Quark gives you a tiny, concealable, fixed-blade utility blade that integrates into a titanium alloy pendant. Unlike tiny fixed-blade knives in this range, the Quark features premium Böhler M390 stainless steel, which stays sharper for longer.

CRKT Folts Minimalist Cleaver: The cleaver-style blade on the CRKT Folts Minimalist makes it an excellent choice for chopping through rough material. But unlike a large kitchen knife, this is a compact next knife or belt knife you can bring to your daily adventures.

Best Fixed Blade Survival Knife FAQs

How we picked

Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.

What is Everyday Carry?

Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily life. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.

Why you should trust us

Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise in the industry and familiarity with design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.

The Best Overall Mechanical Pencil : uni Kuru Toga Roulette [Buy]
The Best Mechanical Pencil Upgrade: Tactile Turn Pencil [Buy]
The Best Technical Mechanical Pencil: rOtring 800 [Buy]
The Best Mechanical For EDC: Staedtler Mars 780 [Buy]
The Best Value Mechanical Pencil: Pentel GraphGear 1000 [Buy]

The Best Overall Mechanical Pencil	The Best Mechanical Pencil Upgrade	The Best Technical Mechanical Pencil	The Best Mechanical For EDC	The Best Value Mechanical Pencil
uni Kuru Toga Roulette	Tactile Turn Pencil	rOtring 800	Staedtler Mars 780	Pentel GraphGear 1000
CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE
Pros	Pros	Pros	Pros	Pros
• Stylish metal construction • Comfortable grip • Rotates lead for uniform wear on tip	•Many material options •Many length options •Two lead sizes	•Drafting tip •Two lead sizes •Barrel prevents rolling	•Lead holder design •Integrated lead sharpener •Hardness-degree indication on clip	•Aluminum construction •Spring-loaded clip •Massive lead compatibility •Very affordable
Cons	Cons	Cons	Cons	Cons
• Only available in 0.5mm	• Price	• rOtring’s pocket clips tend to ride very high	• Only available in 0.2mm	• End cap eraser isn’t the easiest to use
Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line
The Kuru Toga is excellent for EDC because this particular Roulette model features a sturdy metal construction that feels great in your hand.	The attention to detail, beautiful design, and immense customizability of the Tactile Turn Pencil make it one of the best first-step upgrades when starting in the world of EDC mechanical pencils.	Whether you’re using this pencil in combination with a compass and ruler while graphing something out or creating a design on a sketchpad, you’ll enjoy the fine control you get from the rOtring 800.	The lead holder design makes it closer to a traditional pencil in concept, built sturdier and significant for all-around everyday carry. It’s affordable, too, but don’t mistake being cheap for poor quality.	For under 20 dollars at the time of this writing, you get a full-body aluminum construction with a precision retracting mechanism compatible with leads down to 0.3mm up to 0.9mm if you prefer a bolder writing experience.
SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS
Length:	Length:	Length:	Length:	Length:
5.7″″	5.38″	6.1″	8.9″	0.63″″
Refill Sizes:	Refill Sizes:	Refill Sizes:	Refill Sizes:	Refill Sizes:
0.5mm	0.5mm, 0.7mm	0.5mm, 0.7mm	0.2mm	0.3mm to 0.9mm
Materials:	Materials:	Materials:	Materials:	Materials:
Metal	Titanium	Plastic	HB	Metal

The Best Overall Mechanical Pencil: uni Kuru Toga Roulette

One of the best things about the entire uni Kuru Toga line of mechanical pencils is that they automatically deploy lead for you as you write. Having to actuate a side click or top click mechanism is distracting sometimes, and the Kuru Toga eliminates that. And because the lead deployment is reliable, this is my pick for the best overall mechanical pencil. The Kuru Toga is also excellent for EDC because, unlike the standard Kuru Toga made of plastic, this particular Roulette model features a sturdy metal construction that feels great in your hand.

The Best Mechanical Pencil Upgrade: Tactile Turn Pencil

I am a big fan of Tactile Turn’s attention to detail. You’re probably familiar with their bolt action and side click pens, but the Tactile Turn Pencil combines the two designs. The Tactile Turn Pencil uses a linear bolt on the side that retracts the lead, available in 0.5mm and 0.7mm thicknesses. The quality Schmidt DSM2006 mechanism inside has a smooth action that won’t jam when trying to write, and a friction-fit eraser at the back completes the package.

Tactile Turn makes this quality EDC mechanical pencil in the United States in Texas, and you can get it in titanium, copper, bronze, and zirconium. You can upgrade the clip and the bolt with titanium treated with a Damascus finish. You can even have them engrave the pen to personalize it further. The attention to detail, beautiful design, and immense customizability of the Tactile Turn Pencil make it one of the best first-step upgrades when starting in the world of EDC mechanical pencils.

The Best Technical Mechanical Pencil: rOtring 800

I like the rOtring 800 for technical work because it’s easy to see the tip of your pencil lead unobstructed by the pencil’s body. The internal brass mechanism is built to support that extended lead. It can do that because the rOtring 800 has a twist and click retraction, unlike other mechanical pencil designs’ click or push mechanisms. Whether you’re using this pencil in combination with a compass and ruler while graphing something out or creating a design on a sketchpad, you’ll enjoy the fine control you get from the rOtring 800.

The Best Mechanical For EDC: Staedtler Mars 780

A Staedtler Mars was one of my first quality everyday carry mechanical pencils. It’s a lead holder, which means, unlike a standard design with a bunch of thin-diameter graphite shafts, the Staedtler Mars comes with a 2mm lead with an integrated lead sharpener that functions with the pushdown mechanism. It comes with HB hardness lead, and you can rotate the metal clip to the correct indicator point for the particular lead you place into it to remind you of what you have loaded. The lead holder design makes it closer to a traditional pencil in concept, built sturdier and significant for all-around everyday carry. It’s affordable, too, but don’t mistake being cheap for poor quality.

The Best Value Mechanical Pencil: Pentel GraphGear 1000

The Pentel GraphGear 1000 marks where you get the best value for money when starting out in mechanical pencil EDC. Its feature set is replicated in pencils that can be had for much more money, but it remains affordable and accessible to most people. For under 20 dollars at the time of this writing, you get a full-body aluminum construction with a precision retracting mechanism compatible with leads down to 0.3mm up to 0.9mm if you prefer a bolder writing experience. I particularly like the spring-loaded clip, which helps the Pentel GraphGear 1000 grab onto materials of varying thicknesses without breaking or bending.

Pilot Dr. Grip 4+1: The Pilot Dr. Grip is one of the most comfortable mechanical pencils you can buy. Its thick body and ergonomic padded grip make writing comfortable for extended periods.

OHTO Mechanical Wood Pencil: Suppose you want a mechanical pencil that looks like a traditional pencil. In that case, the OHTO Mechanical Wood Pencil is what you need. It has a traditional wooden body and the look of a standard pencil, but it takes 0.5mm pencil leads inside.

Pilot G2 Mechanical Pencil: The Pilot G2 gel pen is among the community’s favorite EDC writing tools. Today would be your lucky day if you didn’t know it comes in a mechanical pencil version. It has the same shape you love with a mechanical pencil’s erasability.

STKR Concepts Mechanical Carpenter Pencil: A carpenter pencil is built tough for scribing marks onto wood before you cut. Unlike traditional ones requiring a knife to sharpen or a specialized tool, the STKR Concepts Mechanical Carpenter Pencil uses a dedicated thicker pencil lead.

Tombow Mechanical Pencil: Many mechanical pencil enthusiasts use a Tombow Mono eraser with their EDC because of its superior erasing power compared to most pencil erasers. You can carry one item with the Tombow Mechanical Pencil because it has the same quality eraser at the rear of the pencil itself.

Rhodia 9340C: The Rhodia 9340C has a distinctive hexagonal metal shape that works as a roll stop on a slanted desk. It also has a refillable 3-in-1 multi-pen and mechanical pencil mechanism.

Pilot Birdy Mini Mechanical Pencil: Out of all these mechanical pencils, this mini mechanical pencil and pen combination is my personal EDC choice. It has been ever since I picked it up years ago at a Tokyu Hands stationery aisle in Japan. Its slim size makes it a good backup, and I always keep it in my bag or pouch when I forget a full-sized writing tool at home.

How we picked

Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.

What is Everyday Carry?

Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily life. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.

Why you should trust us

Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise in the industry and familiarity with design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.

What Does EDC Stand For?

EDC stands for “Every Day Carry.” Your everyday carry is the collection of items you carry with you in your pockets or your bag on a daily basis.

They’re the things you tap your pockets for before you head out the door, the things you feel naked without, and the things that would throw off your whole day if you had to do without them. They are especially valuable, and not just monetarily or sentimentally. Your everyday carry consists of items that you find truly essential.

This means things like pocket lint, scrunched-up receipts, gum wrappers, and other disposables might live in your pocket (hopefully not for very long), but they don’t count as part of your everyday carry. Mainstays in your carry should have certain qualities that fall in line with a few different principles of the practice of everyday carry.

The everyday carry philosophy is built upon the cornerstones of utility and preparedness. Each component of your EDC should serve a purpose or have at least one specific, useful function.

Every day, your EDC essentials prepare you for the worst and empower you to do your best.

Why Should You Have An Everyday Carry Kit?

As the saying goes, it’s better to have and not need than to need and not have. Most people can get value from an everyday carry in average day-to-day situations. For example, I used a pocket knife at my baby nephew’s birthday party to get his gift out of the packaging. Then I used my multi-tool’s screwdriver to open the battery compartment and load up some fresh AAs so he could play with it right away. Later, my EDC lighter saved the day when it was time for cake, and there were no matches to be found.

While this example is relatively tame, an EDC can mean the difference between life and death in emergency situations. Imagine getting into a car accident, and your seatbelt won’t come undone, or your door won’t open—a pocket knife or pocket tool with a glass breaker can save you from that situation.

Another important reason to have an everyday carry kit is for peace of mind. You might not end up needing to use everything in your EDC all of the time every day, but when you finally do, you’ll be glad you were prepared.

What’s awesome is that everybody already has an everyday carry at some level. But by thinking of what you keep in your pockets as your actual everyday carry system, you can enjoy a wealth of benefits:

• You’ll be prepared to handle tasks better: By adding new tools, you can access all sorts of new functions that make your life or your day easier. Or, by taking an EDC approach to upgrading essentials you already use, you can maximize their performance and efficiency, giving you a better ‘in use’ experience overall.
• You won’t have to rely on other people: Having these tools at the ready every day will not only equip you for most of your daily routine, but also for unexpected situations. Your EDC will help you make quick work of things you might otherwise need help doing.
• You’ll save time: Sometimes, you might not even need assistance to get things done, but rather you’d have to waste time trying to find the right tool you need. With a well-built EDC, you won’t have to dig through junk drawers, ask to borrow a pen, or give up on something and tell yourself you’ll bring that tool you needed next time. EDC items are convenient and make your life easier!
• You’ll save money (in theory): If you invest in essentials that can withstand daily wear and perform up to your standards enough to make the cut of your EDC, you could potentially be saving in the long run. Opting for well-made, reliable, and durable goods means you won’t spend more to replace inexpensive, cheaply made disposable items every few months. If you’ve already caught the EDC bug, you might know this isn’t true all the time. But many EDC goods achieve a balance of quality and value that reach “buy it for life” status, so you can buy once and get your money’s worth.
• You can express yourself: The individualization of your EDC is arguably one of the most important aspects of the lifestyle. What you carry and use says so much about you, what you do, what your preferences are, and so on. It’s a great outlet for expression that you’ll recognize in truly unique carries. Refining your kit to reflect you as a person is one of the most fun reasons to look for new gear.

What are the Everyday Carry Essentials?

There isn’t an all-in-one solution for all your daily essentials — you’ll have to develop a system of multiple items. You’re probably familiar, if not already carrying this first core of essentials. For most people, they step out the door after passing a three-touch pocket check of the following:

Cell Phone

There’s no denying that modern smartphones allow us to do more than ever before. No other device can match a cell phone’s functionality and sheer versatility and still fit the palm of your hand. Through accomplishments in hardware alone, our smartphones reduce the need to carry a camera, watch, pen and paper, flashlight, and wallet, for many people. This is great for minimalists, but the rest of the world doesn’t operate entirely digitally. In many cases, there isn’t an app for that.

Wallet

Wallets keep our credit cards, IDs, cash, and other paper documents organized and nearby. The wallet itself might not be as important as what’s inside it, but it serves a critical purpose in protecting these essential assets from damage and loss. An example of a good EDC wallet is one that’s ultra-slim, so it can free up pocket space for other everyday carry items. RFID-blocking is another common feature of modern wallets, protecting you from identity theft.

Keychain

Keys let us go places and secure what’s important to us. Keychains deserve a spot in your EDC because they keep your keys consolidated and easy to use. For many people, the search for a better way to manage their keyring is their entry point to the world of EDC. Most well-considered everyday carry setups include a great keychain or key organizer to keep their keys silenced and organized instead of a clunky, jangly mess.

Knife

The fact that many everyday carries include a pocket knife comes as a surprise to many. While laws and cultural differences might portray these edged essentials in a negative light, a well-designed, reasonably sized pocketknife is primarily a tool. When used responsibly, an EDC knife (such as a Swiss Army Knife) safely handles cutting and slicing tasks — usually better than a house key, a pair of scissors, your hands, or even your teeth can. There’s certainly no app for breaking down a box, slicing into brisket, or cutting cordage! With that said, not everyone will need a folding knife, or even be able to carry one legally. But it’s important to view them for their practicality more than anything.

Flashlight

You would bring an umbrella for a 50% chance of rain, so why wouldn’t you bring a flashlight for a 100% chance of darkness every night? From getting through power outages to looking under couches to navigating a dimly lit path, having a light source in your pocket will come in handy. Some might be content with using their phone’s screen or camera flash for light. Modern lights, with multiple modes and a dedicated battery, perform far better in daily tasks to emergency situations without draining your phone’s battery even more, making them a must-have in many carries.

Multi-tool

The multi-tool embodies many core principles of EDC—utility, versatility, and portability. For quick fixes, tinkering, and other handy work, having a toolbox’s worth of functionality in a single pocketable tool is invaluable. Common multi-tool functions include pliers, screwdrivers, bottle openers, scissors, and other cutting tools. Multi-tools can complement the functions of the five aforementioned essentials when weight and pocket space are at a premium, so naturally, they round out the second trinity of EDC.

Pen

Not everything is digitized just yet. And sometimes, writing with a pen beats tapping away with your thumbs at your phone. An EDC pen takes care of common workplace tasks like jotting notes, signing paperwork, or drawing out diagrams to explain something. Some people prefer to keep a tactical pen handy for emergency situations too. Check out our guide on Why You Should Carry a Pen for even more reasons to keep ink close by.

Notebook

What’s a great pen without something to write on? Soft cover pocket notebooks have recently been growing in popularity in the EDC community. Learn more about why you’d want to carry a notebook in our earlier Carry Smarter article!

Watch

Sure, you can keep track of time by checking your smartphone, but then you’d have to go through the trouble of pulling it out of your pocket. This can come off as rude, especially with company around. Dedicated watches are beautiful in their own right, but they help you keep track of time without depending on short-term phone battery life while always being one flick of the wrist away.

The sky’s the limit regarding what else you can carry in your EDC. Here are a few more examples of popular carry items.

Lighter

You don’t need a vice to have a reason for carrying a lighter. Besides the obvious, they can come in handy for any situation that calls for lighting a fire. Think starting a campfire, lighting candles for a birthday cake, or during a power outage. A lighter also helps with some DIY repairs and crafts, like working with electrical heat shrink or finishing the edges of freshly cut paracord.

Portable Charger

With such a reliance on our devices for work and play, many people keep a power bank or portable charger in their carry. They’re especially useful when traveling or commuting when you need to stay connected but don’t have access to a power outlet nearby. In general, they extend the longevity of other tech essentials you might be carrying, like a phone, camera, handheld game console, or even your EDC flashlight.

EDC Gear Bag

Some EDC purists define the scope of the term to one’s pockets. But pockets alone aren’t always enough. Many EDCers opt to carry a dedicated EDC gear bag to better hold, organize, and protect their essentials. Students and professionals might commute with a backpack for their laptops. Creatives and photographers might have a bag for their gear. Travelers and bike commuters might need a sling bag or fanny pack for easy access without all the bulk of a full-on backpack.

At the end of the day, a bag is a sensible choice if you need to carry more gear than can fit in your pockets.

Frequently Asked Questions

The idea of carrying all of these items might be overwhelming. But don’t worry, you don’t have to carry everything on this list for a perfectly capable carry. Everyday Carry is all about making a setup that fits your needs. Just as no two people are exactly alike, their respective EDCs will vary significantly. Acquire and carry what you need according to your lifestyle, location, profession, daily routine, style, budget, etc.

Your carry should generally be reliable and functional, but most importantly, personal. You might be a minimalist at heart, or you’d have peace of mind knowing all your bases are covered. If your EDC becomes an extension of you, you should be completely comfortable with it! A great EDC shows the foresight to include what you personally need for your day-to-day, and the restraint to leave behind what you don’t.

Where Should I Start?

You should start by upgrading things you know you already would carry every day, rather than trying to add a bunch of different EDC items that ultimately might not be as useful or suit your needs. The wallet is a great gateway item for getting into EDC. Your current wallet might be worn out or needlessly bulky, so swapping to a minimalist EDC wallet is a safe way to learn what the philosophy is all about.

After that, if your local laws permit, a folding knife is often the next step to upgrade your carry game.

When adding new items, try highly recommended budget products so you‘re not investing so much into something that might not work out for you. For an example of great budget items, check out our earlier buying guide.

What are the EDC must-haves?

While there’s no hard and fast rule about what you must carry in your EDC, there are some helpful “cores” of items that enthusiasts commonly swear by. The first is the knife, flashlight, and multi-tool trinity. Ounce for ounce, those three items deliver the most utility to any setup. “Write, slice, light” is another popular trinity of a pen, knife, and flashlight.

What is the Ultimate Best Setup?

You might have an idea of your “holy grail” items, but even those will be highly personal and specific to your individual needs. That’s the beauty of EDC — there is no one ultimate best setup. A huge part of the fun is the journey of dialing in your collection of gear and figuring out what’s best for you.

What if my needs change often?

There are a couple of schools of thought here. Since your everyday carry is modular, meaning you can change out or add single items as needed, you can build out your kit to be versatile enough to cover as many potential bases and situations as possible. Others like to assemble specialized kits for different situations and swap them out accordingly. An easy way to do this is with pouches or pocket organizers loaded with a gear rotation suitable for the task or situation at hand.

The Best Overall Lightweight Pocket Knife: Benchmade Mini Bugout Carbon Fiber [Buy]
The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife on a Budget: Ontario Knife Company Wraith [Buy]
The Most Premium Lightweight Pocket Knife: Kershaw Launch 4 Ultem [Buy]
The Best Keychain Lightweight Pocket Knife: Victorinox Classic SD Alox LE 2024 [Buy]
The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife for the Outdoors: CIVIVI Mini Elementum Fixed Blade [Buy]

The Best Overall Lightweight Pocket Knife	The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife on a Budget	The Most Premium Lightweight Pocket Knife	The Best Keychain Lightweight Pocket Knife	The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife for the Outdoors
Benchmade Mini Bugout Carbon Fiber	Ontario Knife Company Wraith	Kershaw Launch 4 Ultem	Victorinox Classic SD Alox LE 2024	CIVIVI Mini Elementum Fixed Blade
CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE
Pros	Pros	Pros	Pros	Pros
• Iconic EDC knife • Super premium materials in this model • Many variations both in regular and Mini • Fully ambidextrous thanks to AXIS lock	• Unique transparent nylon scales • Fully ambidextrous thanks to dual thumb studs and lockback • Very affordable	• Contemporary material favorites in MagnaCut and Ultem • California-friendly 1.9″ blade	• Legendary multi-tool • Many, many variations both regular and limited • Great keychain backup EDC	• Super popular Elementum profile • Full tang • Included Kydex sheath
Cons	Cons	Cons	Cons	Cons
•Expensive	• Supplies may be limited for the foreseeable future, so grab one if you like it	• Automatic deployment not legal in many locales (check local laws)	• Thinner Alox profile means no light, toothpick, or tweezer inserts • Limited edition colorway, but regular silver is always available	•Fixed blade not always ideal for EDC
Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line
Any savings without compromise is an important plus, and thats why this knife is at the top of our list as the best overall lightweight pocket knife for everyday carry.	With all of the changes and uncertainty at Ontario Knife Company, its better to grab a Wraith for yourself sooner rather than later if you are interested in having one for your everyday carry.	Ultem features superior durability and heat resistance, but for the most part, its the alluring yellow translucent glow that gets many everyday carry enthusiasts into it when used as a handle scale. It contrasts nicely with the black MagnaCut spearpoint blade at a California-friendly 1.9 length.	At 0.6 oz, the Victorinox Classic SD Alex LE 2024 is a nifty way to add a backup knife to your keychain, ensuring you always have a cutting tool on hand when needed.	You do lose the pocketable convenience of the folding mechanism of the original Mini Elementium, but CIVIVI has included a secure Kydex sheath and lanyard for the knife that allows you to wear the knife discreetly and safely around your neck.
SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS
Blade Length	Blade Length	Blade Length	Blade Length	Blade Length
2.82″	2.6″	1.9″	1.5″	2.24″
Blade Steel	Blade Steel	Blade Steel	Blade Steel	Blade Steel
CPM S90V	4116 stainless steel	CPM MagnaCut	Martensitic stainless steel	Nitro-V
Handle Materials	Handle Materials	Handle Materials	Handle Materials	Handle Materials
Carbon fiber	Nylon	Ultem	Alox (Aluminum)	Micarta

The Best Overall Lightweight Pocket Knife: Benchmade Mini Bugout Carbon Fiber

Since its introduction a few years back, the Benchmade Mini Bugout has been near or at the top of the community’s favorite picks for the best overall lightweight pocket knife for everyday carry. Benchmade’s formula for the Mini Bugout is simple, but it’s hard to execute as perfectly as they have. With a 6.5” overall length and a 2.82” drop-point knife blade, you have a compact knife capable of carrying out all your everyday tasks. Benchmade goes a step further by using premium blade steel with CPM S90V stainless, making this a knife that you can get sharp and keep sharp for quite a long time.

Benchmade pioneered the ambidextrous AXIS lock concept, and it makes for an ergonomic knife that you can open and close with either of your two hands. And because it weighs just 1.48 oz in this carbon fiber variant, it doesn’t weigh down your pockets much. Not only does the carbon fiber add a nice touch of class, but it also brings this version of the knife down in weight to its lightest yet by 0.02 oz. Carbon fiber handles also provide better rigidity in hand compared to the standard Grivory handles, which many users tend to complain about. That may not seem significant to a newcomer to lightweight knives, but any savings without compromise is an important plus, and that’s why this knife is at the top of our list as the best overall lightweight pocket knife for everyday carry.

Check It Out

The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife on a Budget: Ontario Knife Company Wraith

You might think that with all the craftsmanship required to make a knife lightweight yet good enough for everyday carry, you will have to pay more to get what you want. But knives like the Ontario Knife Company’s “Wraith” attack that thought with full force. The Wraith accomplishes a 1.50 oz weight by minimizing the amount of metal in the handle as much as possible. It relies on a reliable lockback mechanism sandwiched between semi-transparent glass-filled nylon scales to keep the compact 2.6” 4116 stainless steel blade secure and locked into place during use. It’s an idea taken from old-style lockback folding knives, but unlike those knives, it doesn’t use heavy wood, bone, or brass for the rest of the design.

It’s also made in Taiwan, keeping costs down while still being durable enough for most everyday carry users. In my experience with the knife, it lacks a smooth and snappy deployment due to the nature of its lockback mechanism. In spite of that, it still slices exceptionally well for its price. With all of the changes and uncertainty at Ontario Knife Company, it’s better to grab a Wraith for yourself sooner rather than later if you are interested in having one for your everyday carry.

Check It Out

The Most Premium Lightweight Pocket Knife: Kershaw Launch 4 Ultem

The Kershaw Launch 4 is one of the most compact and lightweight automatic knives you can carry today at 1.62 oz. It’s also a knife made in the USA, featuring two community-favorite materials originating here: Ultem polymer handle scales and CPM MagnaCut stainless steel in the blade itself. Ultem features superior durability and heat resistance, but for the most part, it’s the alluring yellow translucent glow that gets many everyday carry enthusiasts into it when used as a handle scale. It contrasts nicely with the black MagnaCut spearpoint blade at a California-friendly 1.9” length.

Remember that despite the shorter length of the Kershaw Launch 4, carrying automatic knives and sometimes assisted opening knives can generally be more restricted depending on where you are. It’s essential to do your research about your local rules and regulations before making your own decision about whether carrying an automatic knife is suitable for your daily use.

Check It Out

The Best Keychain Lightweight Pocket Knife: Victorinox Classic SD Alox LE 2024

At 0.6 oz, the Victorinox Classic SD Alex LE 2024 is a nifty way to add a backup knife to your keychain, ensuring you always have a cutting tool on hand when needed. This year’s special edition of the knife features a new anodized aluminum Terra Brown colorway that makes it a bit more low profile than the standard shiny silver or red tones of the standard Alox designs. Note here that “Alox” refers to the anodic oxidation process Victorinox uses to construct their aluminum scales and not “aluminum oxide” which has been mistakenly used elsewhere.

And because the Classic SD is a Swiss Army Knife, you can take advantage of the spring-loaded scissors for tasks better suited than the thin knife. Plus, a SAK tends to be more discreet, and its placement on your keychain makes it easier to carry around where you might get strange looks if you bring a full-size blade regardless of the weight.

Check It Out

The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife for the Outdoors: CIVIVI Mini Elementum Fixed Blade

You might think that a fixed-blade knife is heavier than a folding knife for lightweight everyday carry, but sometimes that’s not the case. While a fixed-blade knife tends to have a full-tang construction, eliminating the need for a folding mechanism can improve overall when ounces and grams matter. The CIVIVI Mini Elementum is an excellent example of this in practice: the original folding version of the knife is already highly lightweight at 1.29 oz, but its fixed blade version brings things down to a featherweight 0.79 oz that you’ll barely notice until you need it for your daily tasks.

You do lose the pocketable convenience of the folding mechanism of the original Mini Elementium, but CIVIVI has included a secure Kydex sheath and lanyard for the knife that allows you to wear the knife discreetly and safely around your neck. Better still, the 2.24” drop-point blade is always ready for use, improved in the fixed blade edition with ergonomic Micarta inlays and Nitro-V stainless steel hardened a bit more than the original Elementum’s 14C28N stainless blade.

Check It Out

Spyderco Lil’ Native Lightweight: The Lil’ Native Lightweight is a sized-down version of Spyderco’s original Native back lock knife. By swapping the handle scales to fiberglass-reinforced nylon and cutting things down to a 2.42” blade, the Lil’ Native Lightweight tips the scales at 1.5 oz. The wire pocket clip allows for completely reversible left or right-handed carry, and you can choose between tip-up and tip-down orientations for your carry convenience. The trademark Spyderco eyehole cutout in the CTS-BD1N stainless steel blade is very easy to identify without looking, and if you are wearing gloves, you can still easily open the knife compared to a traditional knife with thumb studs only.

Kansept Mini Korvid: The Kansept Mini Korvid is a compact folding cleaver-style knife with a flipper mechanism that weighs in at just 1.38 oz. It features black TiCn-coated 154CM steel with a flat ground edge that takes full advantage of its wider cleaver shape. With its beefy yet compact 1.45″ blade secured within G-10 handles, you can take on small food prep, chopping, and slicing tasks. The lack of a spear point makes it difficult to pierce with the tool, but if you’ve been on the lookout for a unique pocket cleaver with plenty of variety, the Mini Korvid makes the cut.

Deejo 37g: Many knives classify themselves as lightweight, but Deejo tells you that their folding knife weighs just 37 grams (1.3 oz) in the very name of their product. The hallmark of the Deejo knife is its unique skeletonized frame. That design keeps things light while providing a firm frame lock for the 3.75” Z40C13 stainless steel blade. In its blacked-out colorway mated with the moon phase laser engraved art, this edition of the knife is a useful full-size cutting tool and a bit of flair that will add a touch of elegance to your overall everyday carry gear loadout. You can also look through Deejo’s other offerings because you can customize the knife to the desired materials and look.

Bestech Tulip: The unique utility-oriented blade shape of the Bestech Tulip is reminiscent of a traditional Japanese Kiridashi cutting tool. Custom knife designer Ostap Hel made this knife in collaboration with Bestech, adding several improvements over the traditional original. Unlike the rust-prone carbon steel of those traditional fixed blade tools, the Tulip features a premium stainless Böhler M390 folding design. At just 4” long overall and sporting a compact 1.34” cutting edge, this is a tiny knife, but the milled edges on the titanium handle give you more comfort during the cut. At 1.5 oz, it’s one of the lightest knives you can carry featuring M390 steel.

SOG UItra XR: SOG’s XR lock eliminates blade play, and their Ultra XR knife combines it with carbon fiber scales in the handle and a premium S35VN stainless steel blade that’s been treated with a CRYOgold finish that contrasts nicely aesthetically. The beauty of the XR lock in the handle also means that a one-handed opening is easily achieved by actuating the lock and flicking the knife open, making for a smooth opening that’s faster than most non-assisted opening flipper style designs in actual practice. Eliminating the need for a large frame lock or liner in the handle gives you the performance of a full-size knife while only being 1.2 oz in weight in your pockets.

How to Take Care of Your Pocket Knife

Like all knives, lightweight knives require regular maintenance to keep things in tip-top shape. It starts with keeping the edge of your knife sharp. A dull knife will slip instead of slice and, in the worst case, slip right onto your fingers. It’s also a good idea to dry your knife after it gets wet because even stainless steel knives will rust, given enough time and exposure to the wet elements. Adding oil to the blade will give it a nice shine and help prevent rust. It also can help the pivot on a folding knife work more smoothly for a more satisfying opening and closing experience during daily use.

What Makes a Good Pocket Knife?

Lightweight knives have many of the same considerations that make for an excellent overall everyday carry knife, with additional emphasis on the weight of the knife itself. An excellent lightweight pocket knife has a quality blade of good steel that can get sharp even after extended daily use. The design of the handle is essential, but more so for its looks. A well-designed handle helps a lightweight knife overcome the limitations of a smaller size if present. It also helps make the knife more lightweight overall if intelligent decisions are made to reduce heft without compromising safety and comfort. The locking mechanism influences usability and weight because it’s essential to ensure a knife blade is locked into place no matter how light it is for your safety.

Blade Quality

A lightweight knife should not come with a ‘lightweight’ blade. Like all good everyday carry pocket knives, a lightweight knife should have a well-suited blade for daily use. It pays to choose blades made with premium materials for lightweight loadouts. That’s because premium steels can do better in smaller, more compact designs that tend to dominate in the lightweight space. It also means you’ll worry less about damage to your knife over time via rusting, chipping, and other breakage. A lightweight knife made of a good quality blade will also get sharp and stay sharp for longer.

Handle Design

A knife can have the best steel and blade shape, but you won’t have a good time if it has an uncomfortable handle that’s slippery when wet. A handle made of heavy materials will also ruin a knife if you want to stay under 2 oz and keep things lightweight. And because handles tend to run smaller and thinner on ultralightweight designs than on full-size blades, a well-designed ergonomic knife with good handles is easier to use than one that goes for looks only.

Size and Weight

With a lightweight pocket knife, examining size based on your needs might be better. Look for an overall length and blade length that suits your needs, and then narrow it down to the knives that meet your weight requirements to keep things from getting too weighty in your pockets. With modern materials and construction, carrying a tiny knife is unnecessary if you want a lightweight option. Knives that run larger but are light will be more expensive than other options simply because of the premium materials and intelligent design details that have to go into constructing a capable everyday carry knife along those requirements.

Locking Mechanism

For the most part, when it comes to lightweight pocket knives, choosing a locking mechanism has more to do with your ergonomic requirements than overall weight considerations. With modern everyday carry knives, you don’t have to forego a locking mechanism entirely to save ounces in your pocket. So you can pick the design that keeps a knife secured in place after you open it, especially with the industry’s shift towards ambidextrous crossbar locks that require less metal than a traditional liner or frame lock design from full-size pocket knives. One interesting consideration is whether you want a folding mechanism because some of the most skeletonized lightweight fixed-blade knives have weight advantages compared to folding knives. But opting for that will require you to carry the knife differently because it has to be kept in a holster to avoid poking yourself on your knife before you need to use it.

What pocket knife do Navy SEALs use?

Navy SEALs tend to use military-issued knives that aren’t always available to the general public. However, some brands are often associated with Navy SEALs, including SOG, KA-BAR, and Toor knives.

What pocket knife does the military use?

Military knives are issued to troops, but some have been contracted for their unique use. One of the most famous examples is the venerable Swiss Army Knife, made by Victorinox and Wenger for the Swiss military and other armies and law enforcement users for over a century.

What is the best blade length for a pocket knife?

We recommend blades on pocket knives be between two and three inches long for most everyday carry tasks. Specialized blades can run longer if needed to maximize the slicing potential of a blade. And if the length is limited by requirement or statute, you can certainly go lower than that.

What is a flipper pocket knife?

A flipper pocket knife integrates a tab on the knife’s spine that juts out slightly from the back of the knife near the pivot. Combined with either spring assist or ball bearings in the pivot, it can make for a quick draw and deployment without the hassle of carrying around an automatic knife.

What are the advantages of a lightweight pocket knife?

The best thing about carrying a lightweight pocket knife is that it reduces the burden of having it in your pockets. The more stuff you carry, the more you get weighed down by gear. And if your knife weighs too much, you might not bring it.

Are expensive pocket knives always better than cheaper ones?

While expensive pocket knives tend to be made of more premium materials that can be more durable, capable (and more beautiful) than standard designs, there comes a point where you reach the limit of what money can get you. That’s where a pocket knife goes beyond practicality and becomes more of a work of art. But if you’re just looking for a capable pocket knife, you can opt for a cheaper design and save yourself some money in the process.

How does the size of a pocket knife affect its functionality?

A knife that’s too small for the task will be stiff because the handles won’t allow for a full grip, and the knife might have an edge too small. But a large knife might be too big for our daily use cases, making it too big and heavy for your pockets.

How we picked

Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.

What is Everyday Carry?

Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily life. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.

Why you should trust us

Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise in the industry and familiarity with design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.

The Best Overall Pocket Knife : Hogue Deka [Buy]
The Best Pocket Knife on a Budget: CJRB Pyrite Alt [Buy]
The Best Tactical Pocket Knife: Spyderco Para Military 2 [Buy]
The Best Everyday Pocket Knife: WE Knife Co. Banter [Buy]
The Best Premium Pocket Knife You Can Actually Buy: Tactile Maverick [Buy]

The Best Overall Pocket Knife	The Best Pocket Knife on a Budget	The Best Tactical Pocket Knife	The Best Everyday Pocket Knife	The Best Premium Pocket Knife You Can Actually Buy
Hogue Deka	CJRB Pyrite Alt	Spyderco Para Military 2	WE Knife Co. Banter	Tactile Maverick
CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE
Pros	Pros	Pros	Pros	Pros
• Great entry point to MagnaCut steel • Plenty of alternate variations • Ambidextrous crossbar lock and swappable clip	• Tons of variants both premium and budget • More minimal thumbhole deployment	• Iconic Spyderco tactical knife • Big blade performance • Endless variations of steel, handles, and colors to choose from	• Friendly design • Comes in two other size variations to best fit use cases • Also plenty of variations	• Ultra-premium machining from the best in the business • Made in the USA • Comes in a more affordable variant • Not limited edition, so always available to purchase
Cons	Cons	Cons	Cons	Cons
• Polymer handle may have more “give” than is preferred by some users • Popularity may make it a bit harder to find now in its MagnaCut configuration	• Button lock is slightly less ambidextrous • A bit heavy at 3.6 oz (with Micarta scales)	• Size may be too prohibitive for those looking for a more discreet everyday knife • Compression Lock isn’t truly ambidextrous but close enough	• Deployment can be a bit challenging • Righty-only liner lock	•Ambidextrous thumbstuds and crossbar lock, but righty-only clip position •Omega spring may concern some potential buyers, especially at this price point
Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line	Bottom Line
If you asked me what’s the best pocket knife for everyday carry without giving me any other information, then the Hogue Deka would still be my pick for the best overall.	With its excellent action, powder steel blade performance, durable build, and impressive fit and finish, the CJRB Pyrite Alt is a great way to get the modern EDC knife experience without breaking the bank.	With its larger proportions, excellent performance, and proven design, the Spyderco Para Military 2 sits as one of, if not the best, pocket knives for tactical and daily carry.	The Banter has quite a lot to offer to any knife enthusiasts, starting with a dead simple blade made of S35VN stainless steel that’s good for all-around cutting, slicing, and piercing tasks without needing too much to keep it in tip-top shape, sharp and good to go.	The fit and finish are everything you want from a premium everyday carry knife, and Tactile has taken everything they have learned through years of precision machining great everyday carry pens and stationery into this field, too.
SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS	SPECIFICATIONS
Blade Length	Blade Length	Blade Length	Blade Length	Blade Length
3.25″	3.1″	3.44″	2.9″	3.5″
Blade Steel	Blade Steel	Blade Steel	Blade Steel	Blade Steel
CPM MagnaCut	AR-RPM9	CPM S90V	CPM S35VN	CPM MagnaCut
Handle Materials	Handle Materials	Handle Materials	Handle Materials	Handle Materials
Polymer	Micarta	G-10	G-10	Titanium

The Best Overall Pocket Knife: Hogue Deka

The best overall pocket knife for most people is the Hogue Deka. Ounce for ounce and dollar for dollar, it simply delivers the most value thanks to its top-tier blade steel, conveniently ambidextrous operability, and versatile design that can handle most applications from tactical to outdoor to everyday.

The Deka’s design is similar to one of the most popular everyday carry pocket knives, the Benchmade Bugout 535. It’s similar in size and shape, it’s also lightweight, also uses an ambidextrous dual thumbstud deployment and crossbar lock, and it’s also made in the USA. But it dethrones the Bugout 535 in two important ways: it features one of the most performant and sought-after blade steels on the market—CPM MagnaCut—while also costing a few dollars less.

The blade on the Deka performs just as well as I could hope for. The 3.25” blade is just the right size and shape for most tasks, and the CPM MagnaCut steel holds an edge, can take a beating, and fares well against exposure to water. I enjoy not really having to think about chipping the blade, dulling it too quickly, or taking precautions against rust so much, so I can really use the knife and knock it around a bit.

Read more:
The Drop: Hogue Deka MagnaCut Knife
The Drop: Hogue Deka MagnaCut Ultem Knife

It deploys easily, whether I flick it with my thumb or reverse flick with my index finger on the back of the blade. Hogue’s version of the crossbar lock worked flawlessly out of the box for me, and has since held up from regular use over a weeks-long testing period. While this style of lock is theoretically quite strong, notably ambidextrous, and even affords another way of opening the knife, you should be aware of the potential of the spring inside the lock failing. It’s a lower percentage, and I haven’t had any issues with mine, but users occasionally report failures.

One downside of the Hogue Deka is the same thing I experienced with the Benchmade 535 in my several years of owning and carrying them: the handles. While the polymer handles afford a barely-there, lightweight feeling in the pocket and nimbleness in hand, I can feel them flex under pressure. It doesn’t inspire the most confidence when it comes to hard use. Frustratingly, the Hogue Deka configuration that uses a heavier and sturdier handle material in G-10 does not come with the sought-after CPM MagnaCut blade steel, instead opting for a decent but not as good 20CV steel.

I think anyone who picks up the Hogue Deka except for very particular knife enthusiasts will be satisfied and impressed by the knife’s design and performance. If you don’t use a knife that often to warrant a supersteel or you need practically bombproof handles for extremely hard use, we’d recommend something else on this list instead. If you asked me “what’s the best pocket knife for everyday carry?” without giving me any other information, then the Hogue Deka would still be my pick for the best overall.

The Best Pocket Knife on a Budget: CJRB Pyrite Alt

We are spoiled for choice when it comes to good quality budget knives these days. I’ve tried a bunch of them (and will still mention several further on in this list), but my favorite of the bunch is the CJRB Pyrite Alt. Despite its low cost at under $50, it has the fit, finish, functionality, and fidget factor of a much more expensive knife. I enjoy the knife so much that I ended up getting three versions of it. That’s the beauty of budget blades–they don’t cost much, and you can really use them and beat them up without much worry.

The CJRB Pyrite comes in several variations, so I want to be specific with this recommendation. I think most budget-conscious buyers would like this “Alt” configuration of the Pyrite with a button lock and reverse tanto or wharncliffe blade shape. This version foregoes the dual thumbstuds for a thumbhole cutout in the blade. It makes the blade easier to deploy and fidget with, which is what I enjoy the most about this knife. Its ceramic bearings make the action on the knife snappy, smooth, and satisfying.

Cutting and slicing are no problems for the knife thanks to its 3.1” blade made from AR-RPM9. It’s Artisan Cutlery’s proprietary budget steel. But unlike other steels at this price, AR-RPM9 is a powder metallurgy steel, which is a type of steel usually reserved for more premium knives. I also like AR-RPM9 over a comparable budget steel like D2 simply because it’s a stainless steel and more corrosion resistant, which is important for when I use my knife in wet conditions.

Read more:
The Drop: CJRB Pyrite Knife
The Drop: CJRB Pyrite Blade HQ Exclusive Knife

The button lock also works great on every copy I own. I’ve tried other button locks from other brands that stick unless they’re pressed a certain way or have been broken in a ton, but the CJRB Pyrite Alt is consistently snappy. I also prefer button locks over frame or liner locks these days because they remove your thumb from the travel path of the blade upon closing, so there’s less risk of accidental cuts.

The steel handle is plenty tough and has a nice stonewash finish to it–it doesn’t look or feel like a hunk of cheap metal. However, it does have heft to it at 3.7 oz. While a pocket clip does mitigate some of this pocket presence, it’s by no means ultra light. If you’re sensitive to feeling encumbered by your pocket knives, this might not be the best knife for you. That said, there is a version with Micarta scales instead, which greatly reduce the weight and makes the knife even more grippy and fidgety while in use.

With its excellent action, powder steel blade performance, durable build, and impressive fit and finish, the CJRB Pyrite Alt is a great way to get the modern EDC knife experience without breaking the bank.

The Best Tactical Pocket Knife: Spyderco Para Military 2

Within the everyday carry and knife enthusiast communities, the Spyderco Para Military 2 (PM2) is so highly regarded it’s almost a meme at this point. It’s a decades-old design from Sal Glesser of Spyderco, but that design has stood the test of time thanks to its excellent ergonomics and overall practicality. It simply gets the job done–and in tactical situations, you’d accept no substitute.

There’s no denying the PM2 is a large knife. In my initial testing I thought I would struggle with the larger size (if you have small hands like me, consider the Spyderco Para 3). But in actual use, the knife is much more nimble and maneuverable than its dimensions might suggest–it’s far from cumbersome or bulky. I attribute most of this to how most of the bulk is in the handle, which gives you plenty of grip. Combined with the jimped finger choil and spine and light weight of the handle itself, you can choke up on the knife, and it feels like you’re just manipulating the blade only.

The blade shape affords a more usable cutting edge, with a slight upsweep to a precise point – making it excellent for all but heavy piercing tasks or prying. I can comfortably use it for food prep and opening packaging alike. The PM2 comes in a variety of excellent steels depending on the model. CPM S45VN is the standard: a premium, high-performance steel in its own right, but you can find variants with higher-spec steels like S90V (as shown) and even CPM MagnaCut (a top-tier steel) on recent models.

Deploying a Spyderco blade is a unique experience in itself, thanks to its large thumb hole and signature Compression Lock. It’s worth noting I can still operate the knife when using gloves, which might be an important consideration if you’re relegating this to a tactical setup. The iconic “Round Hole” lets you flick the blade open with your thumb like you’d expect or from the reverse side using your index or middle finger. Because the handle is a bit large, flicking the blade open is admittedly not super consistent for me. Instead, I prefer “dropping” the knife open by pinching the thumbhole and using the large handle’s weight and momentum to open the handle rather than the blade.

Once deployed, the Spyderco Para Military 2 locks via Compression Lock. To put it simply, it’s similar to a liner lock, but on the spine of the knife. This makes the lock very strong and safer to use, as disengaging the lock puts your fingers away from the blade’s path like a backlock might. However, one downside is that it is less intuitive for left-handed users (pro tip: lefties can simply pinch the lock using their index finger instead of their thumb. There are also after-market modification parts that make the lock easier to depress).

With its larger proportions, excellent performance, and proven design, the Spyderco Para Military 2 sits as one of, if not the best, pocket knives for tactical and daily carry.

The Best Everyday Pocket Knife: WE Knife Co. Banter

Few knives are built with as much expertise about what makes for an excellent everyday carry knife as the Banter from WE Knife Co. The Banter was made in collaboration with Ben Petersen, formerly of Blade HQ, one of the community’s favorite places to buy knives for everyday carry. Essentially built as his dream knife, it has quite a lot to offer to any knife enthusiasts, starting with a dead simple blade made of S35VN stainless steel that’s good for all-around cutting, slicing, and piercing tasks without needing too much to keep it in tip-top shape, sharp and good to go.

Another positive aspect of the WE Banter is its non-threatening appearance and smaller size, making it a knife that won’t turn too many unwanted eyes when used in polite company. When the knife is fully closed, the blade sinks deep into your pockets, and the frame cuts a very discreet profile that doesn’t rub up against your body and the other stuff in your pockets simultaneously. I also like that the handle is made of G-10, making it as lightweight, grippy, and compact as possible while giving you a firm grasp during use.

Read more:
Trending: WE Knife Co. Banter
The Drop: WE Knife Co. Big Banter Knife

If I were to nitpick a little, the deployment and lockup hold this knife back. That’s because the dual thumb studs might be too small for some hands. They are also closer to the handle, so it can be hard to actuate, especially if you are trying to open the knife with your non-dominant hand. And on that note, liner locks do favor right-handed people. Newer everyday carry knives tend to favor more ambidextrous designs that make it easy to open, close, and use with either of your hands.

The Best Premium Pocket Knife You Can Actually Buy: Tactile Maverick

The Maverick is a premium modern crossbar lock pocket knife made in collaboration with Richard Rodgers, a two-time Blade Show award winner who has been making great everyday carry knives in New Mexico since 1996. Tactile takes American-forged CPM MagnaCut steel and fashions it into a 3.5” clip-point blade with a slight upswept shape, making the knife excel at detail cutting and slicing with a fine and pointy tip.

You can choose between a grade 5 titanium handle or a canvas micarta scale. Either way, the rest of the knife evokes a fine modern gents’ design with quality-of-life features like a deep carry pocket clip, a custom pivot tuned for smooth draw and closure, and titanium hardware that won’t rust over time and use. The fit and finish are everything you want from a premium everyday carry knife, and Tactile has taken everything they have learned through years of precision machining great everyday carry pens and stationery into this field, too.

Read more: Tactile Knife Co. Maverick

The result is a knife designed by one of America’s best custom knife crafters, made of American materials, and assembled in Texas by Tactile Turn. Even better, the Tactile Maverick is not a limited-edition knife, so if the looks and performance appeal to you, it’s available for purchase right now. No waitlists are required, and there’s no secondary market taking advantage of artificial hype building to navigate when picking up a Maverick for your everyday carry.

Benchmade 945 Mini Osborne

It’s no accident that most of the knives on the list will resemble this iconic knife design from Benchmade. The 945 Mini Osborne takes everything that makes the original 940 a classic, then reins in the proportions to something more efficient and streamlined for EDC. 

Its blade measures just shy of 3”, making it legal to carry in more places. Boasting a premium CPM S30V steel, the blade is plenty capable for most end users. Because the knife is a few years old now, it doesn’t boast the latest and greatest specs. But Benchmade was the first to implement many of these features anyway, like the ambidextrous crossbar lock (the generic term for Benchmade’s once-patented AXIS lock) and dual thumbstud deployment.

Read more: Trending: Benchmade 945BK-1 Mini Osborne

You might see recommendations elsewhere for the Benchmade Bugout 535, the newer and arguably better icon from the Portland-based brand. But I recommend the 945 Mini Osborne over the 535 Bugout in spite of its higher price because it has sturdier feeling aluminum handles and a more distinct design language. The 535 is less competitive because of so many similar alternatives at lower price points, but the 945 still stands unmatched in the Benchmade lineup, in my opinion.

If you’re going to pick a semi-premium American-made knife from this storied brand today, then I recommend picking up the slightly older Benchmade 945 Mini Osborne while you still can.

Gerber Assert

The Gerber Assert also competes in the same category of semi-premium, American-made, lightweight, ambidextrous knives for outdoor and EDC duty. It also uses CPM S30V steel with a 2.99” blade length, housed between lightweight glass-filled nylon handles. The Assert has a unique combination of more subtle details and proportions that make it a worthy consideration amongst the competition. Its 3” blade and slightly chunkier shape make it a somewhat beefier middle-ground between Benchmade’s Bugout Mini (2.82”) and the full-sized Bugout (3.25”).

Read more: The Drop: Gerber Assert USA-Made Knife

I tested a customized Assert and found that its overall performance and carry experience was satisfactory for the price. I enjoyed the chunkier blade shape and the extended thumb hole with adjustable thumbstuds to dial in the deployment. My main complaint with the Assert was its pocket clip was less elegant than other knives I’ve handled, and the action was a bit stiffer and more deliberate than other similar knives. Go for the Assert if you want this style of American-made, drop point, premium steel knife with a crossbar lock and thumbstud deployment and you enjoy its slightly beefier, more rugged proportions and execution.

Kizer Azo Drop Bear

When it comes to everyday carry pocket knives, a common misconception I’ve seen is thinking that stainless steel means rustproof. The Kizer Azo Drop Bear is; however, one of those everyday carry knives that actually has a steel blade that’s pretty much impervious to rust. That’s because the knife features LC200N steel, which is highly corrosion-resistant. While you should still care for and maintain this knife, it’s a great choice for everyday carry in humid climates or working in wet (and salty) conditions.

The Kizer Azo Drop Bear’s overall design language resembles similar crossbar-style knives, except it has its own identity of being more overbuilt. Its thicker handles, stubby blade, and ample jimping translate to a much more robust and substantial feel in hand. The blade deploys and locks with ambidextrous action thanks to the crossbar lock and thumbstuds, but to me, it feels twangy in the way the lock is tensioned.

To summarize, consider the Kizer Azo Drop Bear if you’re looking for a more premium, robust-feeling knife that can stand its own in wet conditions and everyday use.

Kershaw Iridium

For decades now, Kershaw has offered solid production pocket knives in the budget EDC category (and they show their manufacturing prowess with their higher-end sister brand, Zero Tolerance). And while many of their popular knives, like the Leek, Cryo, or Link were good when they first debuted, they’re a bit outdated now. My experience with my Iridium has convinced me it’s a contender to be a new Kershaw classic as their take on the ambidextrous crossbar lock knife.

The Iridium sets itself apart from other crossbar lock knives in the sub-$100 range with its elongated, elegant proportions on the blade juxtaposed with more rugged materials like D2 tool steel and aluminum handles. It’s a perplexing combination that somehow works, and it ends up feeling like I’m getting a whole lot of knife for not a lot of money.

I find the Iridium to be an excellent slicer thanks to its thinner blade and pointier tip. The action is satisfying as well, with the longer blade still swiftly swinging out with a flick of the thumbstud or disengaging of the crossbar lock. I do need to caution that my first copy of the Iridium seemed to be a defective return that Amazon sold me as new, which had a wonky, clanging feel when tensioning the lock. The replacement worked flawlessly out of the box and impressed me during work shifts, breaking down boxes and other packaging.

Read more: Kershaw’s New DuraLock Knife Lineup for 2023

If I could improve the Iridium, I would upgrade its steel to something more stainless and have some machined texture in the handle for better grip. I had reservations about using this in the rain because of its D2 steel being rust-prone and the handle being slippery as is. Kershaw did address some of these issues with a limited edition premium version of the Iridium, featuring highly corrosion-resistant CPM 20CV blade steel and upgraded titanium handles. Unfortunately, it’s already discontinued.

But even in its base configuration, the Kershaw Iridium delivers an excellent EDC knife experience with its own unique design identity. If you’re okay with avoiding wet conditions or taking more care of the D2 blade, I recommend the Kershaw Iridium.

Vosteed Raccoon Crossbar

Vosteed has been making waves lately for its unique designs and enthusiast features at value-packed price points. The Vosteed Raccoon in the crossbar lock configuration is a prime example of this. It boasts a sizable 3.25” blade in a performant 14C28N steel, highly versatile drop point blade shape, complete with ambidextrous dual thumbstud crossbar deployment and lockup. It’s available in G-10 or Micarta handles, which offer excellent durability, grip, and water resistance without the flimsy, flexy feeling of plastic handles that the more ultralight knives on this list tend to use.

Like all the Vosteed knives I’ve used, the Raccoon has an above-average fidget factor and consistently satisfying action. The blade steel and handle materials also give me peace of mind when using the knife, making it a no-brainer EDC or daily beater for all sorts of tasks.

Read more: National Knife Day Feature: Vosteed Raccoon

I don’t really have any complaints about the Raccoon. If anything, it’s distractingly fun to fidget with. But on a more serious note, at $59, the Raccoon Crossbar is an excellent value. If the price were $10 cheaper, this would take the crown for the Best Budget Knife just because its crossbar lock is ambidextrous, making it potentially a more user-friendly pick than the CJRB Pyrite to left-handed people.

CIVIVI Elementum II Button Lock

Few brands in the current landscape offer as many well-designed, capable daily knives as CIVIVI. Choosing just one knife from their catalog was difficult, but I recommend the more recently released Elementum II Button Lock. In my opinion, it builds upon a crowd-favorite design in the Elementum 2 but opts for an improved deployment mechanism and lock mechanism. This button lock version flicks open with a rear flipper tab but can also be deployed by disengaging the lock and swinging the blade. This also makes it more straightforward to use than the thumbstud and liner lock configuration for left-handed users.

Read more: Trending: CIVIVI Elementum Knife

The overall design of the knife is both ergonomic and relatively non-threatening with its generous use of gentle curves. Once deployed, it boasts a 2.96” drop point blade made of Nitro V steel. It’s a reasonably performant budget steel right at home on a knife at this sub-$80 price point. It also features generous jimping on the spine, coupled with the jimping from the flipper tab acting as a finger choil for more control and better handling.

In my experience with the knife, it doesn’t stand out or lean too far into any one design direction, which is a good thing. It’s an excellent all-around knife that’s comfortable, works well, and isn’t too expensive.

Demko AD20.5

Having a sturdy lock is one of the most essential parts of a successful pocket knife design, and Demko’s hallmark Shark Lock is one of the newest innovations in the industry. It’s a ramp-like “fin” placed on the knife’s back spine, which securely locks the pivot point and blade into place. The location of that lock also makes it easy to access with any hand, and putting your grip on the knife during use further reinforces the lock’s strength. That innovative lock design is mated to a sturdy, durable AUS10A stainless steel clip-point blade.

The excellent tactical ergonomics of this knife extend further to its comfortable, grippy G-10 scale handle, which creates a natural blade guard, preventing you from cutting yourself on your blade in case you hit solid material during a piercing maneuver. It’s a design that’s well-suited for utility cutting tasks, and if you want to maximize the knife’s potential, it’s also available in a sheepsfoot style utility profile that adds more strength to the back of the blade while improving its slicing and chopping capability.

Chris Reeve Sebenza 31

Chris Reeve is a legendary American crafter of everyday carry pocket knives. His designs helped set the tone for decades of others to continuously improve the industry to the point where they’re all making the great knives we see today. In particular, his push to make high-performance knives led to the invention of the Reeve Integral Lock and improved powdered metallurgical steels like S35VN here in the United States.

Read more: Trending: Chris Reeve Sebenza 31

The Sebenza has for years now been the grail knife of many people in the community. It can be hard to find one in stock sometimes, so when a new version of it comes out with the latest and greatest of steels, it’s better to act fast. The new Chris Reeve Sebenza 31 is a beautiful knife featuring a titanium handle, a secure Reeve Integral Lock with ceramic ball interface, and a new CPM MagnaCut blade hardened up to a crazy 64 Rockwell units for the ultimate cutting performance you can have with a small and compact made-in-the-USA folding pocket knife.

Quiet Carry The Drift

While most pocket knives are made of stainless steel, you might know that few knives are truly rustproof. Some past knives could claim to be so, but they were made of softer steels that lacked the carbon necessary to have the hardness and wear resistance required to keep and maintain a sharp edge. Modern dedicated rustproof blade knives like the Quiet Carry The Drift take modern metallurgical developments and leverage them for some of the most capable and weather-resistant pocket knives you can carry today.

Read more: Quiet Carry Drift

The Drift from Quiet Carry features a steel called Vanax SuperClean. This is a modern steel that has a hardness rating of 60 Rockwell with extensive corrosion resistance. Vanax SuperClean competes with LC200N, which is a similar kind of ultra corrosion-resistant stainless steel with exceptional hardness and edge retention, and on The Drift it comes with a 6AL4V titanium handle that also braves the elements well. This is the kind of knife you can accidentally drop in a pool and recover later without having to worry about whether it corroded into dust, and that’s the kind of reliability you can count on from your pocket knife when duty calls.

The James Brand Barnes

I’ll be honest: any mention of The James Brand can be a bit polarizing in the everyday carry community. I think that’s because some people can approach the question about the best pocket knife to carry purely on function and practicality. While there are diminishing returns to consider when you look at the cost of a knife versus its performance, I feel that it’s too easy to be irredeemably reductionist when pointing out that cheaper knives can do the trick. They can, for sure, sometimes.

Read more: The 10 Best High-End Knives In 2024 – Pocket Knives and More

But picking an everyday carry knife is like picking out other things in life: a personal choice. And it’s undeniable that a knife like The Barnes from The James Brand looks stunning. From the precision-crafted triangle texture on the titanium handle to the sophisticated touch of a green thumbstud on the Böhler M390 stainless steel knife, The Barnes is a knife that looks just as good (if not better) than how it can cut. Not to mention that the Barnes is the only integral frame lock folder on this list, meaning the handle is milled out of a solid titanium billet as one integral piece. That’s a difficult manufacturing method applied to an expensive base material, which can help explain some of the cost of this knife. Either way, the James Brand products are better aligned for someone with a bigger budget and an appreciation for this sophisticated, refined kind of design. That said, it still has the specs and quality worthy of an EDC knife–if you can afford it.

Knafs Lander

The Knafs Lander is a stout, sturdy folding pocket knife with a manual thumbstud opening and a 2.75-inch Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel blade. There are several variations of the Lander knife that let you pick higher grades of steel like S35VN and M390, and there are various handles that you can pick to suit your style. 

But what sets it apart from similar knives is that Knafs officially supports swapping out handle scales on the knife. They sell various handles themselves and provide instructions on how to do it. Knafs goes above and beyond by providing the open-source CAD file for the knife for makers to tinker and create with at home. That’s exciting because specs like that have to be reverse-engineered. After all, knife manufacturers tend to discourage this practice actively. It’s nice to have the option to mod your knife without completely voiding the warranty. This isn’t something that will appeal to everyone, but it’s another notch in the column for the Knafs Lander, a great everyday carry pocket knife made by a company founded by veterans of the knife community.

SOG Terminus XR LTE

The SOG Terminus XR LTE was my previous pick for the best overall pocket knife. At the time of its release in 2021, it was an early frontrunner before the explosion in popularity of similarly designed knives with premium steel, lightweight handles, and the ambidextrous crossbar lock.

Even today, the SOG Terminus XR LTE boasts good specs: a premium S35VN blade steel, lightweight but not flimsy carbon fiber handles, and a convenient rear flipper tab for quick deployment.

It’s worth mentioning that not even a year after this knife was released in 2021, SOG was acquired by GSM Outdoors. Since then, other users have reported hit-or-miss quality control with SOG knives. I personally own two copies of this knife; one is flawless, and the other was plagued with stiff, inconsistent deployment and action.

Read more:
How SOG Reinvented Itself, One Tool at a Time
A Look at SOG’s Elite New EDC Knives

Provided you get a knife that passes quality control checks correctly, the SOG Terminus XR LTE is still worth considering, especially if you get it at a discount because it’s an older knife from a more prominent brand available at more retailers. Its design is well-suited for EDC, uses excellent materials in CPM S35VN and carbon fiber, and is exceptionally light at 2.2 oz without feeling flimsy in hand.

Flytanium Arcade

Aptly named, Flytanium created the Arcade pocket knife with fidgetability and fun at its core. It starts with the customization options available when you order the knife. You can pick the color of the anodized 6061 Aluminum handle and the color of the blade based on its stonewash or treated surface. Then there’s the G-10 scale inlays at the handle itself: they are swappable to add a changeable touch of contrast to the whole look of the knife while also providing additional practical grip on the blade after it’s flicked open (and closed) with the secure Demko Shark Lock. That Shark Lock allows for ambidextrous carry, and you can order the Flytanium Arcade with holes to stap out the deep carry pocket clip for left or right-handed carry based on what you want.

The blade is no joke, with powdered S35VN stainless steel at its heart and a practical drop point shape with a 3.2” long cutting edge. The Flytanium Arcade’s blade comes with a well-defined tip for piercing work and enough of a curved belly near that tip to slice well as well as chop.

Kansept Fenrir

When I first got my hands on the Fenrir, it took a while for me to warm up to its design. It comes as a collaboration between Kansept and Greg Schob of Sparrow Knife Company out of Mississippi, and it certainly has a lot going for it in the specs department and with a few of its key design details.

Its business end is a blacked-out, flat ground, spear point blade in premium S35VN, with a larger 3.48″ sweeping edge to give it some space for a finger choil at its base. This gave me better control over slicing technique when I chose a full, choked-up grip, which made me more precise with the bigger blade. It uses dual thumbstuds or thumb rollover for deployment and locks up with a liner lock, which is a pretty standard and reliable combination.

Read more: The Drop: Kansept Knives Fenrir

What isn’t standard, though, is the arguable star of the show—the Fenrir’s handle. For this model, its base is black stonewashed titanium matching the blade, but it’s bolstered by a tricolor “fat carbon” pattern, which gives the lightweight material a more organic appearance akin to Damascus than the usual automotive-inspired uniform weave pattern. I think this bolster design (compared to a full scale) is a great option to give the Fenrir both material and color variety, and true enough, other models of the Fenrir make use of the space with G-10, Micarta, Timascus options in addition to fat carbon alternatives.

One last thing I appreciate: the Fenrir is one of the few production knives (especially with such premium specs) to come in a true lefty configuration, which is certainly appreciated by more than one member of our team.

CRKT Squid

Whether you’re looking for your first pocket knife or in the market for a capable “beater” knife, the CRKT Squid is one of my favorite picks. At its price point, the Squid is great value for money. Unlike a gas station special, the Squid has a beefy stainless steel frame lock that won’t fold on you during use. The thumbstud opening is easily felt and actuated without looking at the blade, with the dedicated cutout in the curved handle.

Read more: CRKT Squid D2

The knife also has a very non-threatening appearance, making it a great first choice if you want to carry a knife that doesn’t look blacked out and overly tactical. Look out for the spring-assisted edition of the Squid with a low-profile index finger flipper tab if you want a slightly more accessible and smoother deployment experience.

Victorinox Pioneer X

The Swiss Army Knife (SAK for short) is one of the most recognizable knives in the world. Because of its popularity and ubiquity, it’s a great knife when you don’t want to turn unwanted heads carrying it in polite company. Plus, it comes with a rich toolset as icing on the cake. Our pick for this category is the Victorinox SAK Pioneer X, which I find to be one of the best Swiss Army Knives (and pocket knives) you can carry.

Read more: Victorinox Alox Limited Edition 2022

The hardy embossed aluminum scales with anodic oxidation scales add a bit of durability and flair to the SAK experience, and they stand apart from the standard red resin handles you might be used to seeing on a Victorinox knife. Along with the bottle and can opener on the tool, I especially like that it comes with a pair of small spring-loaded scissors because sometimes that’s a better cutting tool for precision than the slightly larger 3.7” stainless steel blade on the knife.

Opinel No.6

The Opinel No.6 is a classic traditional everyday carry pocket knife made long before the idea of everyday carry was mainstream. It has a beautiful wood handle and a slip-joint design, making it more convenient to carry in many places. But what sets it apart from other slip joint friction pocket knife designs is Opinel’s unique Vibroloc safety ring that lets you lock the blade closed for safety or lock it open once deployed with a simple twist. The stainless steel blade is skinny and sharp, excellent for small and precise cutting. It also makes for a great camp kitchen prep knife in a pinch, so long as you remember to clean the blade and any food particles inside the handle or the pivot action after use.

Read more:
The Best Budget Pocket Knives Under $50 in 2023 (Not Cheap!)
10 Historic Knives from Around the World

For the ultimate cutting performance, you can carry the carbon steel version of the blade, which outstrips the regular stainless steel blade with exceptional edge retention. But because the carbon Opinel needs to be dried after use and regularly oiled more than a stainless steel blade, it might be more suited to an enthusiast than someone entering the pocket knife scene for the first time.

Buck 112 Ranger

While I can use the phrase “this isn’t your grandfather’s pocket knife” for most picks on this list, the Buck 112 Ranger is one knife that has stood the test of time. It has a classic Buck knife styling from a time when a “Buck knife” was almost synonymous with the idea of a pocket knife itself. The 112 Ranger features a gorgeous wood inlaid handle and brass bolsters that evoke a timeless heritage look. Modern everyday carry enthusiasts might look down on the 420HC stainless steel used on the clip point blade on the Ranger, but it’s well known that Buck has refined their metalworking process to get the absolute best performance out of that steel possible, and it’s a step above lesser knives.

Read more: Trending: Buck 112 Ranger

The manual nail-nick opening might be too slow for some users, but this knife is made for considered use, not quick cutting. That’s not to say that the knife isn’t capable, and it’s backed with a sturdy lockback mechanism that was the gold standard for safety until sturdy frame locks were invented.

Ontario Knife Company RAT II D2

While there’s been some turmoil at Ontario Knife Company, and their future is still unclear, their RAT II D2 pocket knife remains one of the most tried and tested designs in the everyday carry pocket knife space, and it remains a solid pick today. If you still don’t have a RAT II, it might be time to pull the trigger because there’s a possibility that what’s available now might be the last made. And with its D2 tool steel mated to a stainless steel liner lock frame with G-10 handle scales, it’s built with hard work in mind. The tip jimping on the blade is especially well-suited for close-up precision work, giving you maximum control of the blade as you cut.

Read more: Trending: Ontario RAT II

The blade itself is slightly higher than the axis of the handle when opened with the thumb studs. This allows the ergonomic handle to run clear of the cutting blade and act as a guard against injury. The older liner lock design might give you pause, but after more than a decade of use in the community, you’ll find that people who have used this knife trust it enough to be their daily driver.

Exceed Designs TiRant V3

While this technically isn’t a pocket knife in the traditional sense due to its replaceable utility blade, it legitimately looks and feels like one. The Exceed Designs TiRant V3 makes a lot of sense for people wanting the portability and ergonomics of a folding knife, but their primary use case might just be breaking down tape and cardboard. 

A utility blade is perfect for that type of task, and the TiRant V3 is what I reach for when I know I have a giant heap of cardboard to break down. I prefer its frame lock mechanism to standard utility blade designs as its overengineered design gives me peace of mind while pushing through rigid cardboard and tape. It also feels safer to use as the blade properly folds closed versus needing to be retracted back into a body (which risks exposing the blade). Similarly, the rear flipper tab makes deployment quicker, easier, and more consistent than pushing or sliding a blade out. I also enjoy not worrying about babying the blade since I can easily replace it with most standard utility blades after each job. Compared to traditional knives in my collection, maintenance like cleaning, oiling, and sharpening are a non-issue.

It’s slim and durable thanks to its full titanium construction, making it easy to carry without bulk or weight in my pockets. It even has a pocket clip, as you’d expect on any EDC-worthy pocket knife, which is something you don’t always find on a run-of-the-mill box cutter.

Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.

Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise in the industry and familiarity with design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.

We picked these knives based on the ones popular with our users, knives we’ve personally tested on staff, and a review of popular knives in the community. Collectors and enthusiasts vet each knife, and we’ve aimed for an eclectic mix of options so that you can find a pocket knife that suits your budget, use case, and preferences. With so many knives out there, we want to help reduce research fatigue, and there’s something for everyone in this mix. You might be looking for a more affordable knife as a starter pick or a beater knife to save wear and tear on your grail option.

For that last point, we aimed to get a balanced spread of knives at different price tiers. 16% of our picks are in the sub-$50 budget tier, 28% in the $50-$100 tier, 32% in the $100-$200 tier, and 24% in the $200+ tier. Regardless of price point, the recommendations deliver or overdeliver in terms of performance and value to be considered for the list. Anything less would not be included in this list. The bottom line is this: these are all knives we use, have used in the past, or would love to use, and we think you should, too.

This list contains 25 of the community’s most distinct, favored, and reputable brands with models made in the United States and imported from abroad. We’ve opted to stick to knives with some commonality in features, just to keep to knives that will have a broad appeal. In this list, you’ll see knives between two and four inches in blade length, which we’ve found to be the ideal length for most people. Anything smaller can be less effective and ergonomic as a cutting tool, and a big knife will likely be too big and heavy to carry daily. For the most part, a blade three inches or below can do what you need to do safely and legally in most areas. As always, it’s important for you to do your research about what you can have in your everyday carry.

Our testing methods for pocket knives focus on what we consider regular use in urban everyday carry situations. We do open a lot of packages and cardboard, which puts substantial strain on the edge of any knife. Occasionally, our testers have been known to open a burrito or two with a knife so that it can be pretty thorough. We consider the overall user experience and not just how sharp a knife is (as crucial as that is). So, we emphasize the comfort of a knife in your hand, the precision and control you have over the cutting experience, and how easy it is to deploy or operate the knife. We also examine longer-term durability over time, the fit and finish of a tool, and more intangible aspects like design value, pocket comfort, and overall satisfaction. 

To dive a little deeper, we examine the little things, like the specs and materials of a design and how they affect subjective design value and ergonomics. We examine the history of a brand or manufacturer’s time making pocket knives for the everyday carry community because building expertise and bridges with the users of your tools is critical today. While ‘ease of use’ is a little subjective, how easy it is to open and close a knife substantially impacts whether you’ll like a knife enough to bring it around daily. That can mean people prefer certain lock types compared to others, but unless it’s a non-locking knife, the lock itself has to be secure for your safety. And with some left-handers on staff, we always appreciate knives that are friendly for more than just right-handed people, with reversible pocket clips and truly ambidextrous mechanisms.

All good everyday carry knives feature some sort of steel. The kind of steel used in manufacturing the blade dictates its quality, which is termed in how well it performs during the cut. Its wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and hardness are also part of the overall evaluation. Some extreme knives focus on one thing over the others. For example, a pure carbon steel knife emphasizes sharpness over all else. The amount of carbon in steel helps determine its maximum sharpness. But absent the other elements in the alloy that make a knife, “stainless” carbon steel is far more prone to rust than standard EDC knives. You have the suitable steel if you’re willing to trade that off for maximum performance. In the modern day, however, powder steels with chromium and vanadium have entered the scene, allowing substantial sharpness, hardness, durability, and wear resistance to be featured in EDC knives more often.

Aside from the steel composition of the knife is the blade shape and edge geometry. A knife made of the best steel won’t serve you well if it’s in a shape that won’t cut the way you want. Suitable everyday carry pocket knife shapes include a drop point, clip point, and wharncliffe utility shape. Another thing to consider is whether the knife comes with serrations or not. A fully serrated knife is geared to saw-through rough material, but serrations are hard to care for and resharpen outside the factory. Some blades have a partially serrated knife part to help you deal with a rough material like a rope. Most modern people carry folding pocket knives forgo serrations entirely for a plain edge that’s easier to maintain.

Handle Ergonomics and Material

It’s too easy to focus only on the cutting edge of the blade of a knife by itself. You should pay close attention to the ergonomic design of the handle of a knife because it dictates how you can use the knife in everyday life. No matter how sharp a knife is, if it is made uncomfortable and unwieldy by a poorly designed handle, it will not be the best everyday carry pocket knife for you. The best everyday carry pocket knives have handles that conform to the shape of your hand, making the knife feel almost like an extension of your body in use. That’s hard to explain, but it’s enough to say that using a well-designed, ergonomic knife is very satisfying. 

Along with the shape of the handle are the materials used to fashion the handle itself. Most everyday carry pocket knives use a stainless steel or titanium frame with scales added to the sides to give you a good grip on the knife. These materials include but are not limited to natural materials like wood and bone, processed and hardened materials like canvas Micarta and stabilized wood, and synthetic materials like carbon fiber, G-10, glass-filled nylon, and Ultem. Each material provides a slightly different feel and can influence a knife’s weight and balance. They also substantially influence the overall look of a knife, so it’s vital to pick the handle scale that you like for everyday carry. Knives that forgo handle scales can use etched or machine grip textures in the metal handle to give you an added grip on the knife during use. 

The placement of design elements like thumb studs, index flipper tabs, buttons, and locks is essential to consider, too. The best everyday carry pocket knives make it easy to find and use these mechanisms to open, close, and use the knife quickly and safely every time. And if you are left-handed, you’ll be pleased to know that the trend in the blade-making community has recently drifted to ambidextrous designs.

Locking Mechanisms

When you carry a knife and rely on it for everyday use, you want to be sure you’re safe. The worst thing that can happen is having a knife close to you while you’re using it. At best, you’re in for some stitches, and at worst, you’ll be in the emergency room. That’s why the best everyday carry pocket knives feature reliable locking mechanisms to keep the blade locked while you focus on the cut.

Liner and frame locks are the two most common locking mechanisms on modern everyday carry pocket knives. Liner locks implement a leaf spring in the frame that slides behind the blade after you move it past a certain point while opening it. Frame lock knives further improve the safety of this formula by using the entire frame of the knife to lock the blade into place. 

In days past, the lockback mechanism was the king of reliable everyday carry knife locking mechanisms. Lockbacks still feature prominently on traditional gents’ knives because of that legacy. They also still appear in modern knives, especially on bigger ones that need a beefier lock to hold the blade.

Button-style locks implement a spring-loaded blocking piece that can actuate open and closed with a button in the handle. You may be familiar with automatic knives that open at the press of a button, but button-style locking knives are not necessarily automatic knives. While they may feature an assisted opening at times, you still have to start the blade on its journey unless the knife specifically bills itself as having an automatic action.

The crossbar-style lock has seen increased adoption in the knife community, especially after it stopped being the exclusive domain of Benchmade to release. Originally known as the AXIS-lock, the crossbar lock features a locking lever at the axis of the knife, which you can slide into place on either side of the knife to lock the blade in place with truly ambidextrous action. The ability to lock and unlock the knife with either hand makes this style of knife lock compelling over other options for many everyday carry enthusiasts from an accessibility and convenience standpoint. 

Finally, while slipjoint and friction folding knives aren’t locking knives, they have some safety features that distinguish them from purely gravity-driven knives with nothing at all. Slipjoint and friction folding knives implement a slight resistance against being opened (and being closed), requiring deliberate action on your part to start the process. One knife in particular, the Opinel, features a unique Virobloc ring at the pivot point of the knife, which allows you to lock the blade in place after you open it with the nail nick. That mechanism can also keep the blade closed for improved safety when carrying the knife in your pockets. 

Just keep in mind that depending on your local rules and regulations, anything that can enhance the locking potential of a knife can complicate your ability to carry the knife legally. As always, make sure to do your research before deciding when and where to carry your knife.

Size and Portability

The most important thing about carrying a pocket knife is to ensure you don’t cut yourself (and others) on the blade during use. Knives are sharp, and if you are not careful, you can cause severe damage. If you can, visually identify the knife and watch it as you open, use, and close it again. It’s also good to remember that a sharp knife is a safe knife, so keep your knives well-maintained as dull edges can cause you to misuse or apply incorrect force when cutting that could lead to accidents.

Price vs. Quality

Up to a point, the price of a knife is an excellent way to determine the quality you get out of the deal. Cheap knives tend to have cut-rate materials and bad quality control. That’s not to say you cannot have a great pocket knife for a bargain. But the best high-end pocket knives come with material costs, design costs, and more that make them more expensive. In turn, that makes those knives more expensive for you to buy, especially if they are limited-run production knives made by small manufacturers.

But price isn’t everything. For example, there are diminishing returns for quality after some point. If you look at a thousand-dollar knife and wonder why it costs so much, it can simply be because the maker can charge that amount and get the sale. You might not be the intended audience for that knife, and that’s fine. And if you enjoy buying knives like you buy works of art, that’s also great. You can feel a lot of intangible joy collecting beautiful, excellent knives you don’t have to justify to anybody.

Importance in Everyday Life

If you’re new to everyday carry or the concept of carrying a knife daily, know that most people who EDC a knife carry it to be prepared. Preparedness has become twisted to its extremes depending on the speaker’s agenda, but at its core, it’s about having the right tools and equipment to get through your daily needs, whatever they may be. And for most people who carry a knife, that’s opening packages and cutting through packaging regularly. When you’re stuck trying to open an Amazon box with your keys and getting stuck on the fiber-reinforced kraft paper tape, know that a knife is a better tool.

A knife can take on different meanings and importance outside the urban environment. That’s when people carry more rugged knives that can withstand inclement weather, with shapes and materials that make them more than just letter openers. For example, I once had to use my folding pocket knife to clear a wheel well of a car from trim that got in the way of normal operations rather than wait 5 hours for a tow truck in the middle of the desert. At the time, I carried a larger tactical knife made with 154CM steel, which was higher-end back in the day, and softer steel might not have done the trick.

The right tool for the job is essential, especially when you EDC for duty, security, or emergencies. In those roles, the situation rapidly changes, and a knife can mean the difference between life and death in terms of getting yourself into or out of a bad situation. 

Like all tools, a pocket knife requires care and attention to maintain its performance for years. While some knives can handle a lack of maintenance for longer than others, even the most expensive and high-end knives need attention sooner rather than later. Most knife manufacturers, including some of the biggest like Benchmade and Kershaw, emphasize the need to maintain your knives regularly. And while you can send your knives in for maintenance, you can avoid major repair and warranty problems by doing what you can.

Sharpening Techniques

knife, it doesn’t matter if the blade is dull when you need to use it. Knives are made of steel, so you need something harder than it to hone and recreate the cutting edge. You do this by rubbing that material on the blade to take away material but create that keen edge again. A pull-through knife sharpener is probably the most elementary of ways you can resharpen your knife. They tend to be very affordable and accessible to carry around. Just note that a pull-through sharpener may mess with the factory edge on your knife if you carry something more specialized or higher-end. A pull-through knife sharpener is set to a generic angle that handles most knives.

For more specialized sharpening, you’ll want to get a precision-adjust system that lets you select the exact angle of your cutting edge. A whetstone is also a great tool to use to maintain the edge on your knife, and with a whetstone, you can go a step further and repair damaged knives that are chipped because you can (with time and experience) reprofile the edge of the knife to get it back into service. For more on this subject, we have detailed guides on this site that go through knife sharpeners, with some of our picks for the best. And while it’s geared towards kitchen knives, this particular video features good techniques for how to use whetstones. And if you’re afraid of ruining your collection, you can practice on cheaper knives that aren’t a part of your EDC.

Read more: Best Pocket Knife Sharpeners in 2024, Ranked!

Cleaning and Storage

You can use hot soap and water to clean a knife. The most important thing is to ensure the knife is completely dry before putting it away. Your knife might be made of stainless steel, but make sure to mistake that for rustproof steel. Very few knives can claim that feature, and it’s still the best practice to dry your knife even when you have a knife like that, just for cleanliness’s sake. A towel and a dish rack drying setup are usually all you need. If you want to get the job done, aim a small electric fan at the knives, and you will remove any excess moisture via evaporation.

Regular Maintenance Tips

Aside from keeping your knives clean and dry, regular maintenance includes oiling the blade and the mechanism to reduce wear and damage over time. Oil also makes the deployment and closure of the blade smoother and more satisfying, which is another reason to do it. If you use your knives for food, you will want to pick a food-safe oil for your knife. That includes mineral oil as well as cooking oils. However, cooking oils will be more prone to going rancid and giving off a bad smell.

Having oil is better than none, but you also don’t want it dripping wet because oil stains are tough to get out of carpets and clothes. That’s why they make small syringes or applicators that let you apply drops of oil to precisely the suitable locations. If you carry firearms, you can also use CLP or gun oil, but those tend not to be food-safe. They also tend to have off smells because of the cleaning elements they tend to have.

Safe Handling and Usage

The most important thing about carrying a pocket knife is to ensure you don’t cut yourself (and others) on the blade during use. Knives are sharp, and if you are not careful, you can cause severe damage. If you can, visually identify the knife and watch it as you open, use, and close it again. It’s also good to remember that a sharp knife is a safe knife, so keep your knives well-maintained as dull edges can cause you to misuse or apply incorrect force when cutting that could lead to accidents.

The knife was one of the first tools made by humans. From its earliest beginnings as flakes of sharp stone to different metals from copper, bronze, iron, and modern steel, the standard knife was a fixed blade tool of work or war. While there are some examples of folding knives from prehistory, folding knives began entering the scene around 1600 especially with increasing industrialization and machine use in the 1800s and 1900s.

Folding knives tended to be what we would term everyday carry knives: knives made to help the user perform daily tasks in the field or at home. With the introduction of high-quality stainless steel like 420HC and 154CM and later powdered metallurgical steels like CPM S35VN in the late 90s and early 2000s, we have come to the high-performance folding pocket knives we enjoy today. Along with the improvements in blade steel and materials we have made great strides in creating secure and convenient locking mechanisms that are easier to deploy than the lockbacks and safer than the non-locking knives of old.

What knife do Navy SEALs use?

Navy SEALs tend to use military-issued knives that aren’t always available to the general public. However, some brands are often associated with Navy SEALs, including SOG, KA-BAR, and Toor knives.

What is the best EDC folding knife?

In this guide, our pick for the best EDC folding knife is the Hogue Deka in CPM MagnaCut steel. While there’s always room for debate about the best knife, the Deka features the cutting edge of modern metallurgy while still being affordable.

What type of knife is best for self-defense?

The best knife for self-defense is one that you’ve trained with to the point that you can rely on it. Bringing a knife you don’t know how to use into self-defense is a recipe for disaster. As always, you must check your local laws and rules about self-defense and using knives for self-defense.

What pocket knife does the U.S. military use?

In the past, the US military has issued folding pocket utility knives and mess knives to troops. These range from knives similar to Swiss Army Knives to folding food knives and more combat-oriented knives. If you’re looking for specific models, looking at reference sources is important, especially if you want to match historical kits.

Drop Point

Featured Pick: Vosteed Raccoon

One of the most common types of knives that you’ll come across is the drop point. Some of the most popular everyday carry knives are rocking a drop point. It’s easy to tell a drop point from other knives because they have a characteristic slight slope down the spine ending in a sharp point. This helps with finer cutting work. Drop points are great general-purpose knives used for everything from skinning fish to cutting boxes. Whether you’re on your 20th knife or want one to last you, a drop point knife is always a great option because of its versatility.

Sheepsfoot

Featured Pick: Kizer Mini Sheepdog Titanium

Not as common as the drop point, the sheepsfoot blade has a much more unique look. Still, knives with this shape blade tend to find their way into plenty of setups. You can identify these knives by the lack of a sharp tip. Instead opting for a spine that runs parallel to the cutting edge before curving down at a sharp angle to the tip. A sheepsfoot blade is great for cutting tasks like food prep, so they’re commonly found in kitchens on chef’s knives. The lack of a sharp tip makes it difficult for more precise cutting tasks, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this probably isn’t for you.

Clip Point

Featured Pick: Demko AD20.5

A clip point blade is another common knife type. The identifier on these knives is the blade, which appears clipped off towards the last third of the blade along the spine. The resulting shape ends in a sharp point for fine cuts. These knives have a thinner spine, which makes it easy to pierce tough materials, but because they are so narrow, they can also break more than some of the other blade shapes if you try to pry something open. Some of the most iconic everyday carry and hunting knives are clip point blades.

Spear Point

Featured Pick: Kershaw Iridium

The spear point is a symmetrical blade great for piercing or thrusting and is also used in some throwing knives. These knives can have one or two sharp edges that meet at the point of the blade. A spear point knife is thicker than needle points, making it more durable and less prone to snapping. These are not ideal for tough chopping jobs as they’re meant for piercing or field dressing.

Wharncliffe

Featured Pick: Hogue Deka Magnacut

While most knives have a straight spine with a sharp edge that curves up to meet the point, the wharncliffe does the opposite. It has a straight edge blade that meets a tapered spine at the tip, like a sheepsfoot blade. The spine of these blades is convex, and that, along with the straight edge, makes it a useful utility knife. These blades are used for cutting on flat surfaces or opening boxes. Due to the curved spine, a Wharncliffe is not ideal for piercing or puncturing.

Straight Back

Featured Pick: Morakniv Garberg

A straight back is one of the more common blade shapes in the everyday carry community. These are characterized by sharp, straight edges that curve up to meet the blade’s spine. Crucially, the spine of these knives is usually dull, making it a safe place to add pressure for tougher slicing or cutting jobs or even for striking a ferrocerium rod to get sparks going for a fire. These are a common shape in fixed blades that will be used outdoors in tough survival situations or for tasks around camp.

Tanto

Featured Pick: Damned Designs Chimera

Tanto knives have a more specialized blade shape that consists of an angled tip with no belly and two cutting edges. The design is based on traditional Japanese weapons designed for piercing and stabbing, but in the everyday carry world, these are also great for scraping and prying tasks since they’re more durable than some other blade shapes.

Gut Hook

Featured Pick: Buck 685 BuckLite Max II

A gut hook knife has one real purpose: gutting game (hence the name). These knives are characterized by a small hook at the blade’s tip that protrudes backward along the spine, allowing a hunter to cut through skin without damaging anything underneath. Due to the specialized nature of these knives, they’re rare in everyday carry but very handy in the field.

Hawkbill/Talon

Featured Pick: Fox Knives 599 Karambit

Hawkbill knives are so named because they resemble a hawk’s sharp beak (or talons). The spine and the blade’s edge curve sharply downward and meet in a curve that is great for ripping and slicing. Whether you’re cutting through carpet, gardening, or stripping wires, these specialized knives do light work of jobs that would be more difficult with any other type of knife. Again, these are rarer to see in most everyday carry due to the specialized nature of the blade. But they’re generally not uncommon, considering the wide range of use cases for construction and electrical work.

Blade Edge

The type of tasks you encounter will determine the blade edge you should be looking for.

Fully serrated edge: If you need to cut through wavy fabrics, belts, or ropes often, then a serrated knife is best. The teeth on the blade make it easier to cut through tough materials with more control. This is a great option for first responders, for example.

Plain edge: The plain edge knife is the most common everyday carry knife. It has a continuous sharp edge that can be used for various purposes ranging from food prep to precise carving. A plain edge knife will be more than enough for most everyday carry situations.

Partially serrated edge: A partially serrated edge combines serrated and plain edge knives. They usually have serrations on the bottom half of the blade, while the top half is a plain edge. These knives cover a wide range of use cases. The serrations are perfect for cutting through tough materials, while the plain edge makes slicing and cutting easier to handle.

Number of Blades

Single-blade pocket knives: When it comes to everyday carry, most pocket knives you’ll come across are single-blade. As the name implies, these are knives that have a single blade.

Multi-blade pocket knives: A multi-blade pocket knife is a knife that gives you more than one option for cutting tasks. It might have one straight-edge blade that you can use for food prep as well as another serrated blade for cutting twine. While these aren’t the most common knives, they’re dead useful.

Multi-tools & Swiss Army Knives: Swiss Army Knives and multi-tools will usually have a knife or two built-in but will also offer some other useful tools like screwdrivers, pliers, and bit drivers, to name a few. One thing worth mentioning is that most multi-tools skimp out on a quality blade in favor of a more compact form factor.

Blade Steel

The type of blade steel manufacturers use is also worth considering when buying a knife. Some are easier than others to sharpen, while others are tougher and more durable. There is no perfect knife, but the right combination of materials could be perfect for you.

Carbon steel: Carbon steel knives have a reputation for being more durable than other kinds of steel. They hold an edge for longer, are easy to sharpen when dull, and a sharp knife is safe. When it comes to everyday carry, this a great option as everyday carry knives tend to get put through a lot in daily use.

Tool steel: Tool steel is a type of carbon alloy used to make durable tools, including knives. The benefits of tool steel are mainly toughness. They’re harder, resistant to abrasion, and retain their shape in high temperatures. For heavy-duty work, tool steel is hard to beat.

Stainless steel: Stainless steel blades are one of the more popular options simply because they’re usually cheaper to produce. That said, there are still plenty of reasons why you might want a stainless steel knife instead. They’re usually plenty durable and can be made thinner without sacrificing toughness. They also have a high water resistance, meaning they won’t rust as easily.

Locking Mechanism

Lock Back: A lock back mechanism is a classic on plenty of folding knives. The spine locks in place thanks to a small notch on the back of the blade. Closing the knife is as simple as pushing down on the part of the spine exposed to disengage the lock and fold the blade. These are great for everyday carry as they’re a safe and reliable method of deploying a blade, but they’re difficult to open one-handed.

Mid Lock: A mid lock is similar to a lock back mechanism. The main difference is that the release mechanism is towards the middle of the blade.

Liner Lock: A liner lock mechanism is one of the most common types of locking mechanisms. It features a side spring bar lining the inside of the handle. The spring bar is held in place by tension when the knife is closed, but when the blade deploys, the metal bar props open the knife, keeping it secure.

Frame Lock: A frame lock works very similarly to a liner lock, but the difference is that the metal tension bar is a part of the frame/scale of the knife. This results in a stronger lock since the metal bar is tougher than the one used in a liner lock and is also usually paired with a separate piece of hardened steel, called a lockbar insert, which is the part that makes contact with the blade while open.

Ring Lock: A ring lock is a type of lock made famous by the Opinel knives. It’s a simple and affordable way of locking the blade in place. It uses a small metal ring that you can rotate around to keep the blade from closing in the middle of a job. When the task is done, spin the ring around again until the blade lines up with the space of the ring so that you can close it.

Lever Lock: A lever lock uses a metal pin and a hole in the blade’s tang to keep the knife open. The pin slides into the hole and clicks in place when the blade opens. When you’re done, lift the pin out of the tang using the lever on the knife to fold the blade.

Slipjoint: Slipjoints are most common with Swiss Army Knives. These knives don’t have a separate lock mechanism and usually need two hands to use. These use tension and a small spring bar to deploy the blade and lock it back into place.

Opening Mechanism

Manual: A manual knife requires you to deploy the blade either with two hands or by flicking a thumb stud or cutout in the blade. They have locks that will click into place when deployed, but that isn’t a requirement (like the Ring Lock, for instance).

Automatic: An automatic knife does not need any force from the user to open the blade. Also called switchblades, these are knives where the blade jumps out from the handle at the press of a button thanks to integrated levers and springs.

Assisted opening: An assisted opening knife fits right between manual and automatic. While it relies on the user to begin the process of deploying the knife, it also has an internal mechanism that takes over at the halfway point to finish the job.

Handle Materials

G-10: A G-10 handle is a special material made from fiberglass and an epoxy resin. The two are pushed together under extremely high pressure and heat until combined into a composite.

Celluloid: Celluloid is a type of plastic formed by combining cellulose, nitrate, and camphor. It was a very common type of handle in the early 1900s and could be made into handles with bright swirling colors that were also durable enough for everyday carry.

Bone: Some knives have handles made from the bones of animals (usually cows, pigs, or sheep) that have been polished down until they’re super smooth and easy to hold.

Aluminum: Aluminum is a very common handle option for many everyday carry knives because they’re lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and can be anodized to have a variety of finishes. They’re also not as expensive to work with as other materials.

Zytel: Zytel is a fairly modern composite material and is a type of Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN). This material is virtually indestructible while remaining lightweight and fairly inexpensive.

Micarta: Micarta is another fairly common type of knife handle that’s made using layers of canvas, linen, or even paper. The materials are layered and held in place by plastic resin. The resulting material is a durable, grippy, and tough material that can take a beating and develop a patina over time.

Wood: Along with bone, wood is one of the most popular materials to work with in human history. A wooden handle can be durable, provide a good grip, and age beautifully with time, giving heirloom pocket knives a great look.

Titanium: Titanium has been a popular metal recently thanks to its strength-to-weight ratio. It’s about ⅓ of the weight of steel without sacrificing any toughness, which is essential in a knife you will be using every day. The downside is that titanium can be expensive, so be prepared to shell out more for it.

Stag: Stag handles are handles made from deer antlers. The material is highly dense and super durable, and it gives your knife a unique look that can’t be easily replicated in a factory.

Stainless steel: Stainless steel is an excellent choice for handles simply because of its durability. Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant and usually not too expensive either.

Delrin: Delrin is a type of thermoplastic that’s tough, lightweight, and wear-resistant. It’s also the stiffest, unreinforced polymer you can get for a knife handle.

Mother of Pearl: Mother of pearl is made of tiny calcium carbonate crystals that give the material an iridescent look similar to that of a pearl. It’s also known as nacre and is usually on the expensive side.

Kraton: Kraton is a synthetic rubbery thermoplastic with a non-slip grip. It’s great for everyday carry as it’s extremely durable, resistant to heat, and doesn’t need a lot of upkeep. It has such a great texture and grip that it shouldn’t slip out of your hand even if wet.

Rubber: Another type of material found on handles is rubber. While it isn’t a super popular option, a rubber knife handle is a solid choice for everyday carry since it’s impact-resistant, water-resistant, and comfortable in the hand.

Our Favorite Brands

Benchmade: Benchmade is an Oregon-based company that has become one of the most popular brands when it comes to everyday carry knives. They offer a wide range of high-performance knives, from fixed blades and hunting knives to folders and kitchen cutlery.

CRKT: CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) was founded in 1994 in Oregon as well by two former employees of Kershaw Knives. Since then, CRKT has become a go-to for trustworthy pocket knives for adventurers and desk divers alike.

Spyderco: Spyderco was founded in 1976 in California and is known for its spider logo and signature Round Hole in place of thumb studs. Spyderco knives tend to have a unique look compared to other knives, and their options range in price from entry-level to grail.

WE Knife Co.: Established in 2000, WE Knife Co. has aimed to shift the view of Chinese-made pocket knives. They use premium materials and collaborate with industry experts, producing innovative designs and premium-quality knives.

Buck Knives: Buck Knives is a classic folding knife company that has existed since 1902. It also makes hunting knives and modern folding knives, but it’s known for its traditional folder, which has stood the test of time.

ESEE: ESEE Knives is a premium survival knife brand, and since 1997, they’ve designed affordable knives used by law enforcement, adventurers, and survivalists alike.

Kershaw Knives: Kershaw Knives was founded in Oregon in 1974 by Peter Kershaw and has churned out some of the most popular everyday carry pocket knives on the market. It’s now a brand of Kai USA Limited, which sources and manufactures knives, but Kershaw remains a powerhouse thanks to the variety of options it offers at affordable prices.

Gerber Gear: Gerber Gear was founded in 1939 in Portland, Oregon, and makes all kinds of knives and multitools. Whether you’re looking for hunting knives, multitools, or a solid pocket knife to add to your everyday carry kit, Gerber knives are tried and true gear that won’t break the bank.

Opinel: Opinel Knives was founded by Joseph Opinel in France in 1890. It’s one of the most classic types of folding knives, and the simple design has remained popular for over 100 years.

CIVIVI: The CIVIVI brand was launched in 2018 by WE and is well known for offering high-performance pocket knives that look good, feel good, and get the job done at affordable prices.

Kizer: Kizer is based in Guangzhou, China, and has been around since 2012. They offer a wide range of high-performance knives, so whether you’re looking for a knife for camping, hunting, or everyday use, Kizer likely has a knife that will fit the bill.

Kansept: Kansept was founded in 2020 in the knife Mecca of China: Yangjiang by Kim Ning, a former employee and designer for Kizer Knives. Kansept is passionate about creating practical knives at budget-friendly prices and premium quality for everyday use.

Knives are not toys.

It should go without saying that knives are tools, not toys. Always treat your knife respectfully and exercise caution whenever you take it out. Not everyone sees knives as tools; to some, they are weapons.

Know your laws.

Regarding how knives are viewed, know your local laws when shopping for a knife. Some places have laws to limit the carrying of knives of a certain length, while others limit the type of knife you’re allowed to carry, and still others don’t have any real laws! It’s better to be safe than sorry. Always know your local laws.

Open the knife away from your face.

Even when handled with care, accidents happen, and knives can be dangerous. Opening the knife away from your face is always a good idea. Even though modern knives are made to withstand a beating, things can go wrong, and small essential pieces can still break.

Watch your fingers when closing your knife.

Many knives fold into the handle for easy storage, so be mindful that your fingers don’t get caught in the way when you’re closing it. Especially knives like slip joints and friction folders that don’t have a dedicated lock to prevent the blade from closing accidentally.

Cut away from your body.

It’s always good practice to cut away from your body just in case the knife slips. You don’t want to cut into your new shirt accidentally. Better safe than sorry.

Use personal protective equipment.

While most people will likely use their pocket knives in everyday situations, there are some times when proper protective equipment is necessary. A sturdy pair of gloves or some cheap protective eyewear goes a long way.

Properly store and maintain your knife.

It may seem counterintuitive, but a sharp knife is a safe knife. The sharper a knife is, the less likely it will slip and accidentally cause an accident. A properly maintained knife will do your bidding if you’re intentional with every cut. Make sure to sharpen regularly and oil the blade occasionally if necessary.

What is the most popular pocket knife?

The Benchmade Bugout 535 and Victorinox Swiss Army Knives are two of the most popular pocket knives.

What is the coolest type of pocket knife?

This is definitely up to personal preference, but we have a list of the coolest knives that might be worth checking out!

What knives are used by Navy SEALs?

Navy SEALs tend to use military-issued knives that aren’t always available to the general public. However, some brands are often associated with Navy SEALs, including SOG, KA-BAR, and Toor knives.