The 10 Best Pocket Knife Brands
It almost goes without saying that the thought put into selecting a pocket knife to purchase for yourself can directly affect your outdoor experiences and your day-to-day tasks. As a tool, the pocket knife is nearly as old as pockets themselves, and it continues to be a quintessential outdoor tool for casual hikers and trail enthusiasts alike. Here we compare a few of the leading pocket knife brands and weigh their pros and cons in various situations that one might encounter in the great outdoors, and we hope that by the end of this article, you will feel confident selecting the best pocket knife for your tastes and needs.
Product FAQ
1. What Is a Pocket Knife?
2. Where Can I Purchase a Pocket Knife?
3. Are There Different Types of Pocket Knives?
4. How Much Do They Cost?
5. Do The Knives Need to Be Sharpened?
How We Picked the Best Pocket Knife
Image from Pixabay
To find the best knife for you, we reviewed the following brands based on their business values, pros and cons, prices, where you can buy them, and their warranties. It is important to note that we did not evaluate a particular knife, but rather a variety of brands that make pocket knives. Meanwhile, our grounds for valuation come from considerations like the quality of material used in each knife, the quality of design, and the business practices of the companies that make the knives themselves. From these considerations, we hope to help you in your search for the best pocket knife for you.
Overall Price Range of Pocket Knives
Knife costs depends o various factors. For our list we will focus on a sweet spot range from the cheap ones to the average and high price range, to highlight quality pocket knives that won’t scare you off from a price standpoint. These brands are among the gold standard of knife makers, and they have focused their skill and ability on developing products that are exceptional, durable, and reliable. Thus, we hope this guide will help you find the best pocket knife for you among.
Brands We Reviewed
- HIGH-QUALITY: The 154CM stainless steel blade is tough, rust-resistant, and holds an edge...
- WELL-DESIGNED: Benchmade's AXIS lock is exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous. The...
- COMFORTABLE: The 551's lightweight design and handle grips make it comfortable to hold and...
Features
Benchmade is an American brand dedicated to quality from the ground up. The company illustrates this by operating out of the founders’ home town of Oregon City, Oregon, even as the company expands into more and more far-reaching proportions.
They offer their exceptional knives via a three-tier system: Gold, Blue, and Black. Gold is the most common and affordable system, Blue is more expensive and Black is rarely sold at a civilian level and is more directed to law enforcement and other parties that would require a permit to carry them.
PROS
CONS
- 440 stainless steel blade
- G-10 handle scales
- Includes Kydex sheath and belt adapter
Features
Boker boasts a long history of knife making experts and enthusiasts, and every knife exudes quality. However, their somewhat uninspired design can occasionally be a turn off for people, but the pocket knives make up for their less-than-impressive design in functionality and durability.
PROS
CONS
- RAZOR SHARP BLADE - 3-1/4" Drop Point 420HC Steel Blade delivers excellent strength, edge...
- CONVENIENT ONE HAND OPENING - A Thumb Hole on the blade facilitates a smooth one-handed...
- SAFE AND SECURE GRIP - The Ergonomic Grip made from Injection Molded reinforced nylon...
Features
Owning a classic Buck knife is a rite of passage for most American hunters and outdoorsman, and it has maintained its level of success and notoriety by maintaining high standards of quality for all of its knives.
PROS
CONS
- Satin Polished Japanese aus 8a blade
- Easy to re-sharpen in the field
- Compact design
Features
A little left field compared to other brands on this list, Cold Steel makes their mark by creating unique knives that never shirk on the quality. The result is polarizing among knife enthusiasts, but one thing is for sure: the blades are great.
PROS
CONS
- Chrome Vanadium (CV) steel blades
- Clip and spey blades; smooth yellow synthetic handle
- Great everyday pocket knife for projects around the house, the outdoors, and hunting
Features
Knives by Case are known for their elegant and classy design coupled with an outstanding heritage of quality. Case knives pack a portable and user-friendly punch that users continue to boast about to this today.
PROS
CONS
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Features
CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool Company) is a major innovator in the knife game that continues to elevate itself to new and innovative technological achievements with every knife it releases. The knives are a gorgeous marvel of innovation and pristine engineering.
PROS
CONS
- Super karambits = Overall Length 8.375 in - Blade Length 3.0 in.
- Combat Karambits = Overall Length 6.80 in.- Blade Length 2.60 in.
- G10 Grips & Titanium liners & Lock
Features
A brand built from the essence of pure enthusiasm for knives Emerson is quality knife making at its finest. This is one of the best pocket knife companies out there, but is it the best pocket knife company for you?
PROS
CONS
- Crafted from the highest quality materials
- Built for performance and durability
- Made in United States
Features
DPX is quickly becoming a contender on the knife making scene, and for good reason. DPX makes extremely durable knives designed to thrive in tough conditions.
PROS
CONS
![Gerber Paraframe Mini Knife, Fine Edge, Stainless Steel [22-48485]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21uRzQEkAfL._SL160_.jpg)
- Lightweight open frame perfect for everyday carry
- Easy to clean, carry, and open
- Frame lock holds blade open and safely closes
Features
Gerber is a household name among knife and outdoor enthusiasts because of their dedication to creating high-quality blades, particularly heritage knives, which are meant to last through generations and nearly any use.
PROS
CONS
- Titanium carbo-nitride coating adds distinct appeal and blade protection to the durable,...
- Awesome, stylish, classy, exciting, flashy, blue-gray handles with a carbon fiber overlay...
- Opened with a built-in flipper, the KVT ball-bearing opening makes opening the knife...
Features
Offering stylized and user-friendly knives, Kershaw is the everyman’s knife maker intent on bringing quality folding knives to the masses.
PROS
CONS
The Verdict
Finding the best pocket knife for you means you must consider your budget, your needs, and your own personal style. If you can afford it, we highly recommend the Emmerson blade series for their exceptional quality and stunning design. If this is unreasonable for you, then consider a buck knife; they are affordable and downright amazing to own.
As with any purchase, sometimes the best way to make a choice is to be able to personally handle the item. For that we recommend you visit your local outdoor store or knife shop and check out the different models we talked about here for yourself. Whatever you choose, we know that among these brands, you won’t struggle at all in finding the best pocket knife for your needs.
