Topic: The Best Pocket Knives (Read 47 times)
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Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
For around $30, you get classic lines, updated features, and Made-in-the-USA quality, which makes the 110 Slim stand above the rest in this category and the best pocket knife for under $50.
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Product Description
The Buck 110 Slim is a modern version of the Iconic Buck 110. As the name implies, it’s slimmed down in both weight and thickness from the original. It also has a pocket clip and a thumb stud for blade opening: both new features for the 110. One of the things I didn’t like about the original 110 is that it sat like a sideways brick in the bottom of my pocket. The 110 Slim has a nicely executed pocket clip that keeps it oriented and stationary in my pocket for easy, consistent access.
Buck kept everything people love about the classic Buck 110: It has a tried-and-true back lock design. The neutral handle shape with textured handle scales makes for a co*fortable and secure grip in wet or dry conditions. The hollow ground blade is a real slicer. I love that Buck updated this knife and kept the manufacturing here in the U.S., which is rare for knives in this price category. If you’re on a tight budget but still want quality, it’s going to be very hard to beat this updated classic.
Key Features
Why it Made the Cut
The subject of the best EDC folder is a hotly debated topic in the knife world. There are a few names that always co*e up in the conversation, and the Benchmade 940 is one of them. What sets it apart from the other contenders in the 940’s warranty, its nearly indestructible handle design, and its highly functional blade shape.
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Product Description
I have referred to the Benchmade 940 Osborne as the “Mary Poppins of pocket knives” because it’s practically perfect in every way. This is obviously subjective, but many knife nuts share my opinion. co*fortable, easy to carry, nearly impossible to kill, and backed by a co*pany that stands by their product. For example, if you manage to bend the clip, Benchmade will send you up to three per year free of charge. Most co*panies don’t match that. They will also sharpen it for free for life.
Its lock design makes it easy to use with either hand, even with gloves on. Add to that a long blade-to-handle ratio, and modest form factor in your pocket, and you have a winner. I have been beating on mine relentlessly for about eight years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The Benchmade 940 was an easy choice for the best EDC Pocket Knife.
Read Next: Benchmade 940 Review
Key Features
Why it Made the Cut
Case is one of the most recognizable knife makers in the U.S., and the Stockman pattern is what most people think of when they think of Grandpa’s knife. I know my Grandpa had one.
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Product Description
I love my modern pocket knives, but I still carry my traditional blades as well. My Medium Stockman has Black G-10 handles for a touch of modern, but the rest is all nostalgia. The best traditional pocket knife, the Case Medium Stockman has been around forever and proven itself to be useful and reliable on farms, in shops, at the office, and around the house for countless people over the years.
It’s available in many different handle materials to suit any style, and is the quintessential non-locking traditional knife. The different blade shapes are nice for different tasks, and the clip point blade might be the best splinter removal tool made. Although the blades don’t lock, the spring tension resists closing and keeps the blades securely shut. Many slip joints are more expensive, and many are cheaper, but Case hits the sweet spot for value and quality, and the Medium Stockman is one of their best patterns.
Key Features
Why it Made the Cut
The RazorPro is a purpose-built hunting knife with a strong gutting blade and a replaceable blade making it our pick for best pocket knife for hunting.
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Product Description
I’ve tried several replaceable blade knives and have never really been a fan of them. That is, until I used a friend’s RazorPro. What won me over was the thick and strong replaceable blades that are supported by the holder almost out to the end of the blade. It feels much stronger, and handles much more like a regular knife, which is a huge plus for me.
The other thing that set this knife apart for hunting was the gutting blade. It has a recurve shape, with a rounded tip, which means no accidental punctures, and no having to straddle the blade with your fingers. The gutting blade is also perfect for unzipping hide down the spine and legs. Another plus is the rubber, nylon, and stainless steel construction makes for easy cleanup.
Key Features
Why it Made the Cut
The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (PM 2) is the best pocket knife for slicing out there because of its geometry. A full flat grind and a distal taper make this knife cut like a razor blade.
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Product Description
The Spyderco PM 2 is an extremely popular EDC knife, and for good reason. This thing just plain cuts. Breaking down cardboard, food prep, opening packages, and most other everyday cutting tasks are a breeze.
While the Spyderco may be the best slicer, it loses marks for tip strength. If you tend to be rough on blades, you might want to look elsewhere. If you just use your knife to cut stuff, (you know, what it’s designed for) and don’t press your blade into use as a pry bar, the PM 2 should give you years of trouble-free use and enjoyment.
Aside from its razor-like qualities, another feature people like about the PM2 is its ergonomic handle that you can grip in several ways. The handle is curved with two-finger choils for an ergonomic profile, and the handle scales are flat pieces of textured G-10 over stainless steel liners.
There are two different hand positions when using the PM 2: Regular grip- all fingers on the handle, and choked-up, where you move onto the finger choil that’s integrated into the blade to get right up to the cutting edge for serious control.
As you shop for a Paramilitary 2, you’ll find it has loads of variations in both blade steel and handle colors. But your basic model has been upgraded to S45VN steel from S30V and keeps the high traction G-10 handle scales of the previous base model.
Key Features
Why it Made the Cut
The ZT 0350 is an over-built knife designed for hard use. The construction and feel of this knife leave no doubt it’s capable of any job.
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Product Description
The ZT 0350 gets the nod for the best pocket knife for hard use because it’s big and tough, but not so big and tough that it’s a pain to carry. This is about the best pocket knives, after all. There are bigger and stronger hard use knives, but the 0350 is the best blend of carry and toughness. I have owned three of these over the years, and I always liked them a lot. Pretty co*fy in hand, and I never felt like I didn’t have enough knife for what I was doing.
The ergonomics are designed with hard use in mind. The flipper tab doubles as a finger guard to prevent slipping forward onto the cutting edge for stabbing or thrusting cuts, which is great for a hard use knife. The blade is fairly heavy and stout, so the spring assist makes deployment much faster and easier than others that are manual opening.
Even though this blade is strong all the way out to the tip, it’s actually a pretty good slicer. Most of the time, the really overbuilt blades are prybars with semi-sharpened edges. The 0350 manages to be tough while still functioning well as a knife. ZT has a solid warranty, but it’s doubtful that you will ever need to use it. This knife is made to take some punches.
Key Features
Why it Made the Cut
The Kershaw Leek fires out like a lightning bolt, but also has the ability to be tamed with a lock that keeps the blade shut to prevent in-pocket and unintentional openings.
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Product Description
The Kershaw Leek’s features make it the best assisted opening pocket knife