There’s also tool steel, which can contain titanium, molybdenum, vanadium, or other elements. Choose stainless, like AUS-8, VG-10, or 8Cr13MoV, and its cousins in the 9Cr and 7Cr series if you will mostly be using your knife on the water, to process game, or to prepare dinner while camping. Stainless blades are often cheaper than their carbon counterparts, too. Stainless steel isn’t as hardy as carbon, but with the addition of chromium, the blade is less susceptible to corrosion. Types of carbon steel include 420HC, XC90, and 1095. Carbon steel is easy to sharpen, holds an edge well, and is durable, but the blade takes more care because the metal is prone to corrosion. The three most common material categories for pocket knives are carbon, stainless, and tool steel. More for Your Outdoor Adventures: Best Hiking Shoes Plus, you can use the back of the blade for things like fire sparking rods without it closing or bending on you. It won’t close on your fingers during use, which makes it safer, and the stiffness of a locking blade lets you manipulate it at a variety of angles, like while whittling wood or opening a particularly tricky package. Most handles range from 3.5- to 5-inches. Most blades in this category measure from 2- to 3.5-inches long and have a drop-point shape. It should be light enough to carry comfortably but with a blade and handle that are sized to your liking. When considering knives for everyday carry (EDC), look for a folding option that easily fits on your belt or in your pocket when closed. What to Look for in a Pocket Knife Folder I now have different knives for different days and activities and have tested most of the top models from the top brands over the past few years. My preferences for a good pocket knife have evolved considerably over those 30 years, and my collection of pocket knives has grown as well. I never showed up to her house without one after that and I’ve probably carried a pocket knife for 95 percent of the days of my adult life. The Expert: My grandmother once chided me (then knife-less) that a man with a pocket knife was worth an extra dollar an hour on their dairy farm.

Best Small Pocket Knife: Benchmade 533 Mini Bugout.Best Spring-Assisted Knife: Kershaw Link.I’ve highlighted my favorites in a range of styles so you can find a pocket knife that’s perfect for your everyday carry. Since I enjoy trying all kinds of pocket knives, I’m regularly testing the latest widely available options from the most popular brands. Everyone is different, so what appeals to me might not appeal to you. Many pocket knives are designed to clip to a front pocket and feature a locking mechanism to make them safer to use and carry-definitely important considering the frequency with which you’ll have it in-hand.Īfter a lifetime of carrying a pocket knife, I’ve developed my own inclinations-a medium-length, spring-assisted flipper that opens and closes easily, is thick and heavy enough to pry with, and is able to withstand a beating. While pocket knives of old would often fold, they didn’t necessarily lock out, meaning they were carried loose in a pocket. Trust me, when you carry and wield something every day, you develop strong preferences around it. While almost any knife small enough for pocket carry will give you a diverse range of benefits, it’s the design, size, style, and features that make a big difference in how it fits your lifestyle. While the average person might use it more for opening Amazon boxes these days than the demands of rural life, almost anyone can benefit from carrying a blade whether you live on a farm or a city block. I’d argue that a pocket knife is essential equipment for everyday life, and has been for centuries.

Folding kniives with katana blades