Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Pocket Knife
- Usability: Can the knife be used for a variety of tasks? Is it easy to handle, with one hand?
- Blade Strength: A strong blade. Steel types, such as Sandvik and D2, offer durability and sharpness.
- Fashion and Style: Whether you prefer a sleek, minimalistic design or something more flashy, the knife should reflect your style.
- Efficiency: Can the knife serve multiple purposes like prying, unscrewing, or slicing, marking, ect…
- Price: High-quality knives can be expensive, many affordable options perform just as well for or even better everyday carry.
- Comfort: A good handle shape and the right weight make a knife comfortable for extended use.
- Pocket Clip and Size: The knife should fit well in your pocket and feature a clip for easy carry.
Top 10 Best Pocket Knives in order
- Blade Length: 3.55 inches
- Steel Type: Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel
- Locking Mechanism: Frame lock
- Features: Non-assisted opening, stainless steel handle
- Why it’s great:This is by far the best knife that I have ever used. It is definitely my favorite knife and my #1 choice for EDC. I like the frame lock because anybody can use it. So when someone asks to use my knife they don’t hurt themselves. I like Everything about this knife and I don’t have a single thing bad to say about it. And if you want a stronger ambidextrous knife, they offer the exact same knife with an axis lock for $80. I just have not bought that because I like how I can hand this knife to anyone. Plus my backup knife always has an axis lock. If i could only have one knife in my pocket for the rest of my life this would be the knife that i would coose.
- Blade Length: 3.15 inches
- Steel Type: Sandvik 14C28N steel
- Locking Mechanism: Axis lock
- Features: Fiberglass or G10 handle, non-assisted opening
- Why it’s great: I carried this knife for 6 years and never had a problem with it, it always put up with the abuse that i gave it, prying out staples, opening paint cans, fishing, hunting. Whatever i needed it would do. I would still be carrying it today, but i’ve grown attached to it haha. The trailing point may be a turn away for some people, but i grew to love it. I really liked the fact that i had a huge belly to slice with and when i needed a precise tip for utility cuts and what not, i would just flip my knife around and i got a fantastic point to make utility cuts with.
3. Kershaw Iridium
- Blade Length: 3.4 inches
- Steel Type: D2 steel
- Locking Mechanism: Axis lock
- Features: Non-assisted opening, anodized aluminum handle
- Why it’s great: This is the knife that i use to replace my Giant Silkworm, although its not the same knife and i can’t expect the same result. I really do like this knife. It has a great belly for slicing but not too much belly to where you can’t get into hard to reach places. The lower point makes it really nice for utility cuts. My one problem with this knife is the blade width. Although the blade stock is an almost full flat grind, the belly of the knife is so wide i have a hard time using it in hard to reach places when working on my truck and tractors. But as a knife i have no problems with it. It is really good and for the every day person i would highly recommend. Its a good backup choice for me and if i could only have one knife in my pocket i would be happy with this one.
4. Leatherman P4
- Blade Length: 2.76 inches (primary blade)
- Steel Type: 440C stainless steel
- Locking Mechanism: Back lock
- Features: Multi-tool, includes 2 blades and screwdrivers
- Why it’s great: I really don’t have much to say about this knife. Its a really good multitool, supper strong wire cutters and pliers. I have used this on fencing wire and it has held up amazing. All the tools lock strong and are able to be opened from the outside. I have used allot of multitools and allot of leathermans. And this one has been my favorite.
- Blade Length: 3.4 inches
- Steel Type: Sandvik 14C28N steel
- Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
- Features: Trac-tec inserts, assisted opening, anodized aluminum handle
- Why it’s great: Known for its fast deployment, the Blur is nice for when you don’t want to think about opening your knife. It is convenient in a lot of situations not to need to think about having snappy action. I would have ranked it higher but you really shouldn’t hand someone an assisted or auto knife. Even with warning them they could hurt themselves. I have carried it allot and i really like it. But if i could only have one knife this would not be it. I really like this knife as a backup and i have never had a problem with it. But what really turns me away is the chance of handing it to someone and hurting them. But just for me this knife works amazing.
6. Civivi Elementum
- Blade Length: 3 inches
- Steel Type: Nitro V steel
- Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
- Features: Non-assisted opening, G10 handle
- Why it’s great: This is a really good knife for edc, not to big, not to small. Easy to use for everybody, even not knife people. Supper affordable, and the steel is really really strong. For a first time knife buyer i would highly recomend this knife. The spear point blade makes it good for all types of cuts, and it comes with a liner lock or a button lock. Those are both easy to use for everybody. I have used this knife allot but not as much as some of the others on this list, and from what I have seen i am extremely impressed with this knife.
7. Civivi Backlash
- Blade Length: 3.5 inches
- Steel Type: 9Cr18MoV steel
- Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
- Features: G10 handle, non-assisted opening
- Why it’s great: I like this knife because of its supper comfy handle and the fancy design. Its a larger knife with a good profile and a good design. It looks good in allot of different situations. It holds an edge great and had TONS of different color options. Its a solid knife that anybody can use. It is a larger knife but it fits in the pocket nice and does not stick out because of the deep carry pocket clip.
8. Kershaw Cryo
- Blade Length: 2.75 inches
- Steel Type: 8Cr13MoV steel
- Locking Mechanism: Frame lock with stabilizer
- Features: Available with assisted or non-assisted opening
- Why it’s great: It is a nice and compact knife with allot of cutting power, i this knife because out of all my knives, this is the one that i have tried to break the most. I have done everything with this knife and it still works today. Although its in a little rougher shape haha. I would recomend this knife to any beginer knife person because of the automatic opening and the more matinance needed because of the speed safe technology. I really like this knife. The reason i dont carry it anymore is because i dont like how wide it is and short it is. It is a stubby knife. But over all its a wonderful knife. I really enjoyed my time carrying this knife.
9. Buck 252
- Blade Length: 2.78 inches
- Steel Type: 7Cr17 stainless steel
- Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
- Features: G10 with steel liners handle, non-assisted opening
- Why it’s great: This knife is a really simple knife with a liner lock. It is a good knife for slicing. I just dont carry it anymore because it does not have a sparp point. It is not good for stabbing things. It is a really solid knife with a supper solid blade, it just isnt the right fit for me. I still have it on this list because it has really impressed me for the time that i have carried it, its just not the right fit for me.
10. Gerber Fuse
- Blade Length: 3.3 inches
- Steel Type: 7Cr17MoV steel
- Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
- Features: Stainless steel and GFN handle, non-assisted opening
- Why it’s great: Its not, the steel needs sharpened allot, and when stripping wire the blade gets damaged unlike most the other knives. But it is simple and easy to use. I normally keep this knife in my boot as a POS knife just incase there is a task i dont want to use one of my nicer knives for.
Right Knife for You?
The best pocket knife for you depends on your specific needs. Whether you need a robust multi-tool for everyday tasks, or a slim, lightweight knife for quick, precise cuts, there’s a knife out there for everyone. Think about how you’ll be using the knife. Will you be prying open boxes, cutting rope, or using it for food prep? Based on your needs, choose a blade type, lock system, and size that work for you. For me? Its the CRKT M16-03KS. I love everything about it and every day it surprises me with how good a knife it is.
The right pocket knife is all about finding the tool that works best for you. The knives mentioned above offer a range of options, from heavy-duty multi-tools to sleek, everyday carry models. Regardless of your preferences, remember: the best knife is the one that gets YOUR job done.