Pocket Knives With High End Blade Metal Reviewed
The Best Pocket Knives of 2022
Pocket knives have been elevated over the concluding few decades, with applied science and blueprint bringing incredible upgrades to this once-humble tool.
In the world of outdoor gear, pocket knives have go almost ubiquitous. They're everywhere, from the brandish cases at REI to the checkout lanes at your local hardware store. And with companies like Spyderco and Benchmade offering hundreds of models, it'southward piece of cake for buyers to feel like they're positively drowning in pocket knives.
To keep yous from that specially unpleasant-sounding fate, we've assembled a list of the best pocket knives of 2022. But rather than simply showing you the newest or well-nigh expensive blades, our testers and researchers have prioritized cut performance, in-mitt condolement, and ease of deport.
Below you'll find a roster of blades offering the best mix of adequacy, construction, and value the industry has to offering.
Cheque out our top picks at the links beneath or scroll through to browse for yourself. At the finish of our list, be certain to check out our comprehensive buyer's guide and ofttimes asked questions.
- All-time Overall
- Best Budget
- Best Lightweight
- Best Outdoor
- Best Small
- Best Multitool
- Best Rustproof
The Best Pocket Knives of 2022
Best Overall: Spyderco Chapparal Lightweight
Few companies offering a better stable of knives than Spyderco. And of all their hits, none has resonated quite so much as the Chapparal Lightweight ($135). 1 reviewer dubbed it the "collection killer," as information technology prompted him to stop buying knives altogether. Afterwards experiencing the apex of cutting prowess and carryability, what was the point?
While it lives up to its lightweight billing, the Chapparal is in no way cheap. Spyderco included skeletonized stainless steel liners inside its FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon) slabs likewise as a total steel backspacer.
Its back lock mechanism is a classic, equally simple equally it is reliable. Add in one of the company's fantabulous wireframe pocket clips, and yous're left with a paragon of comfort and function.
If there's a caveat here, information technology lies in the blade steel. While CTS-XHP is an incredible textile, it presents itself as (pun incoming) a kind of double-edged sword.
On the i hand, you get affordability, superior hardness, and great edge memory. It can, withal, be more than prone to staining than other similarly priced steels. But you lot can avoid this past simply wiping downwards the blade after each use and hitting it with a touch of oil every now and and then.
It's lite, it'south discreet, and it cuts like hell. If you're in the market place for a pocket pocketknife that simply works, look no farther than the Chapparal Lightweight.
Specs:
- Bract length: 2.8 in.
- Blade steel: CTS-XHP
- Overall length: 6.4 in.
- Handle textile: FRN
- Lock blazon: Back lock
- Weight: 2 oz.
Pros:
- Great size and slicing performance
Cons:
- Bract slightly prone to staining
Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Blade HQ
Best Budget Pocket Pocketknife: Civivi Elementum
When information technology comes to budget blades, no one does it better than Civivi. Every bit the disbelieve fly of Nosotros Knives, the brand has become known for releasing quality tools without the premium price. One of the best among these is the Elementum ($fifty), a truly great all-around pocketknife for everyday carry.
Its iii-inch blade is equanimous of D2 steel, one of the best options in this toll range. And the pocketknife'south "action" (opening of the bract via its flipper tab) is on par with alternatives costing twice as much.
If there'south a downside hither, information technology's the steel. D2 will hold an edge for quite some time, only information technology isn't exactly the most rustproof of materials. It's kind of the older cousin to the CTS-XHP institute on our meridian pick, which means you'll need to take the same kind of precautions. Be sure to dry the blade before tucking it dorsum between the liners to avoid whatsoever sort of discoloration.
But overall, information technology's hard non to similar the Elementum. It comes in a wide assortment of materials, colors, and configurations. So if you're a fan of the pattern but want to brand an upgrade to the blade steel, Civivi has yous covered. We like its budget configuration as well and wholeheartedly recommend it every bit an EDC selection.
Specs:
- Blade length: three in.
- Blade steel: D2
- Overall length: 7 in.
- Handle material: Chiliad-10
- Lock type: Liner lock
- Weight: 2.ix oz.
Pros:
- Great action
- Blade
- Buy options
Cons:
- Prone to blade staining
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Best Lightweight Pocket Knife: Benchmade Bugout
Has Benchmade come out with a bigger striking than the Bugout ($144)? Not since the 940 or Griptilian has the brand so captured a market segment.
Aimed specifically at hikers, the Bugout offers 3.24 inches of sharpened S30V steel, textured grips, and a perfect deep-conduct pocket clip in a package weighing under 2 ounces. Add in the snappy, fidget-friendly activeness of the Axis Lock, and you're left with something truly special.
There are a few pitfalls here, though. To save ounces, Benchmade designed the Bugout with merely the smallest of steel liners. This means most of that gorgeous blueish handle is purely plastic.
While the spacer posts will keep information technology from collapsing, a hard grip will squeeze the slabs together. But this is a light-duty pocketknife, so you shouldn't be bearing down on it in the first place.
For what it is, we consider the abbreviated liners to be only a small outcome. More troubling is the toll pitter-patter. When nosotros first reviewed the Bugout in 2018, it price $120. A few years after, and the price has grown to $144.
But fifty-fifty with the added cost, it'south hard not to enjoy the Bugout. It'south a straightforward, eminently carryable knife with a wonderfully slicey blade. Heck, in that location's even a mini version out there if you're looking for a sub-3-inch blade. And if you experience like building your own, Benchmade offers an excellent customizer tool.
Specs:
- Blade length: 3.24 in.
- Blade steel: S30V (Others bachelor)
- Overall length: 7.46 in.
- Handle material: Grivory
- Lock type: Axis lock
- Weight: 1.85 oz.
Pros:
- Potent design
- Easy to carry and customize
Cons:
- Price pitter-patter
- Calorie-free-duty
Bank check Price at REICheck Cost at Blade HQ
Best Outdoor Pocket Knife: Common cold Steel Finn Wolf
This isn't the showtime time this detail Common cold Steel ($65) has graced the pages of GearJunkie. When putting together our list of the Best Bushcraft Knives, the Finn Wolf was the solitary folding knife to brand the cutting.
The tall bevel of its Scandinavian-mode border is a riff on the classic Puukko way, which is fabricated for cutting through woods. The textured Griv-Ex handle conforms wonderfully to the hand, allowing for a secure and natural grip.
There are a few issues here, starting with the steel. AUS8 was all the rage a few decades agone, simply it'southward at present a decidedly lower-tier material for pocket knives. It'll cut for longer than super-budget steels like 8Cr13MoV, but its edge retention will be the lowest of whatever knife on this list.
Then there'due south the Tri-Advertizing lock. While arguably the strongest of the mechanisms featured hither, it tin can be fairly stiff to operate when new. So spotter your finger when closing the knife, lest the Wolf snap you in its jaws. It as well rides a chip high in the pocket, though this does arrive easier to draw.
But at under $40, it'southward really hard to argue with the value here. Yous're getting a solid workhorse of a knife, with improve-than-baseline materials in an outdoors-forward blueprint. If you're looking for a folding knife for your next trip to the woods, the Finn Wolf is a worthy companion.
Specs:
- Blade length: iii.five in.
- Blade steel: AUS8
- Overall length: seven.875 in.
- Handle material: Griv-Ex
- Lock type: Tri-Ad lock
- Weight: 3.4 oz.
Pros:
- Bang-up for wood
- Affordable
Cons:
- Cheapish steel
- Loftier pocket ride
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All-time Small Pocket Knife: Civivi Baby Banter
For a couple of years in that location, it felt like pocketknife companies were releasing new designs every few weeks. Perhaps no i has been more guilty of this than Civivi, who erupted onto the scene with a massive and scattershot catalog. But out of this confusion came one of the great new designs of the last couple of years — the Baby Barrack($59).
Designed by Ben Petersen, a longtime personality in the pocket pocketknife industry, this item model has a lot going for it. It's the downsized version of his original Banter, offering a foliage-shaped bract in merely under 2.5 inches of Nitro-V steel.
The handle is sculpted from G-10 and is available in several unlike colors. And see that in curve where the blade meets the handle? That's chosen a finger choil, and information technology lets you choke up your grip for added control. Add in a smooth-running liner lock and a deep carry pocket clip, and you've got a truly wonderful tool.
If you lot're looking for negatives hither, there'due south not much to complain about. It's small, sure, and probably won't be a fit for people with extra-big hands. But for others, its approachable size will be a characteristic, not a flaw.
In the cease, this is an first-class choice for daily carry. Civivi'southward magic mash of quality designs and materials is on total display with a cost tag that's relatively easy to stomach.
Specs:
- Blade length: 2.34 in.
- Bract steel: Nitro-V
- Overall length: five.46 in.
- Handle material: Chiliad-10
- Lock type: Liner lock
- Weight: two oz.
Pros:
- Easy to acquit
- Comfortable in the manus
Cons:
- Maybe as well small for some
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Best Multitool Pocket Knife: Victorinox Buck
Any listing of the best pocket knives wouldn't be complete without an entry from Victorinox. Every bit ubiquitous as the thought of a "Swiss Ground forces Knife" has become, a few of its offerings stand out from the crowd. Ane such model is the Victorinox Cadet ($43). Beyond its well-ground blade, users volition detect a wealth of other tools tucked inside its durable aluminum frame.
A quick word earlier nosotros perjure ourselves: In the buyer'southward guide below, we'll generally try to steer y'all abroad from no-name stainless steel. Victorinox gets a flake of a pass here, equally its knives have shown to hold up well over time.
The company seems to prioritize stainlessness over border retention, simply the thinness of its blades helps them cut for longer. Plus, they're easy to sharpen. There's also no locking mechanism, so you'll desire to limit it to simple cutting tasks.
Merely really, you know what you're getting into with a Victorinox. And the Cadet is 1 of the best offerings in its lineup. If you like the idea of all this added capability, exist sure to bank check out our overall list of the Best Multitools.
Specs:
- Blade length: 2.v in.
- Blade steel: Victorinox Stainless Steel
- Overall length: 3.3 in. closed
- Lock type: None
- Handle material: Aluminum
- Weight: i.6 oz.
Pros:
- Peachy versatility and slicing functioning
Cons:
- Non-locking blade
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All-time Rustproof Pocket Pocketknife: Spyderco Table salt 2
Spyderco'south Salt 2 ($125) comes with an incredible pedigree. Based on the iconic Delica4 design, its outside will expect familiar to anyone who'due south browsed the visitor'southward catalog in the concluding decade or and so. But it'due south the details that make the Common salt two i of the most intriguing knives on the market.
Where other knives may boast a stainless steel blade, the LC200N on the Table salt 2 is more accurately described every bit rustproof due to the chemical composition of its metallurgy. Spyderco has as well done away with the stainless steel liners, incorporating a webbed pattern into the inner side of the FRN.
Whatsoever downsides here volition be the same equally those found on its ancestor. The Delica4, while lauded for its cutting functioning, was known for its just-okay pocket prune. And we hope you like greenish, considering that'southward the merely color bachelor with the LC200N.
Simply nitpicks aside, the Salt 2 is an incredible wedlock of utility and technology. Whether you're working in the rain or slicing limes on the beach, it'southward a knife you can rely on in all conditions.
Specs:
- Blade length: 3 in.
- Blade steel: LC200N
- Overall length: seven.2 in.
- Lock blazon: Back lock
- Handle material: FRN
- Weight: 1.nine oz.
Pros:
- Won't rust
- Excellent cutting performance
Cons:
- High pocket ride
- Limited color options
Check Cost at AmazonCheck Price at Bract HQ
Why You Should Trust Us
Here at GearJunkie, we've been reviewing pocket knives for years. Some of our reviewers take spent more than fourth dimension and money on the hobby than they'd intendance to admit.
Only out of that obsession has come a existent appreciation for what makes a great pocket knife. And while we could type whole volumes on the merits of various bract steels and handle materials, what nosotros've done here is boil it downwardly to the essentials, focusing on value and utility.
The knives you'll see listed above may not all exist the latest or flashiest models, merely each one offers outstanding operation for a reasonable price. These blades are capable, approachable tools, not only pocket jewelry.
Buyer's Guide: How to Cull a Pocket Knife
Blade Steel and Length
In full general, iii inches is the sweet spot for bract length on pocket knives. Not simply does this offering the all-time compromise of utility and ease of behave, but information technology's also a legal boundary in certain places. Unless you're absolutely in need of something longer, 2 to 3 inches is ideal.
What those inches are made of, even so, can be a bit trickier. In the higher-priced category, we'd steer you lot toward steels like S30V, S35VN, M390, SPY27, or LC200N. Also, annihilation using CPM (crucible particle metallurgy) as a prefix should exist solid.
These are great all-around stainless steels, with LC200N crossing into basically rustproof territory. On the budget finish, look to steels like D2, Nitro-V, or VG10. Each of these has been around for decades, offering first-class value for the coin.
With so many options out in that location, it's actually easier to tell you what to avoid. Steels similar 8Cr13MoV, 440HC, AUS8, and anything listed every bit "surgical" or bones "stainless steel" — these are materials whose times take passed. Unless you're looking to spend less than $thirty on a knife, they're not worth the money and frequent resharpening time.
Locking Mechanisms
Other than blade steels, no component in the pocket pocketknife world is equally hotly debated every bit the lock. Button, back, compression, Axis, liner, Tri-Advertising — these are just a few of the mechanisms out there. All take their devotees, and arguments about the relative merits or toughness of each have been raging for years.
For 99% of the work yous're doing, whatever of these will work just fine. While gear reviewers (several of our own writers included) love to test the durability and failing points of diverse locks, pocket knives are light- to medium-duty tools.
And while Cold Steel's Tri-Advertizing lock is the closest thing you can get to a folding stock-still blade, heavy-duty users will be better suited to ponying up for one continuous piece of total-tang steel.
That being said, there are a few other factors to consider. While near everyone knows how to operate a back lock, they may struggle a bit more than with the jump of a liner or frame lock.
Button, centrality, and compression locks tin be a touch fiddlier, merely they offer the consideration of keeping your fingers out of the path of the blade as it closes. In the stop, it's upwardly to you and your comfort level.
Handle Materials
Equally with blade steels, there are a wealth of options when it comes to handle materials. Spyderco, for instance, utilizes fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) for most of its lightweight models.
You'll encounter information technology implemented on the Chapparal LW and Common salt 2 listed above, both with textured grips. These knives are rock-solid in the hand, allowing you to work with confidence. Grivory, another such material, appears on several Benchmade models, including the Bugout.
Both of these are splendid for situations in which your cut hand may come across some wet. G-x, a pop glass-based resin found on the Civivi Elementum, is another stiff candidate for everyday utilize.
Merely plastics and laminates aren't the only games in town. Titanium makes for an excellent handle cloth, thanks to its durability and lightweight nature.
Aluminum, such every bit that establish on the Victorinox Buck, is another worthwhile pick. And while we didn't list a pocketknife using carbon fiber, it's another high-tech, low-weight selection popular on the loftier stop of the spectrum.
These may have a bit less of a warm feeling in the manus and may impair your grip when slippery. But their durability and rigidity are not to be overlooked.
What you'll want to avoid, for the most part, is annihilation utilizing rubber or plainly slabs of steel. These types of handles can be gluey and overly heavy, making the pocketknife a full general carp to use and deport.
Pocket Clips
While they may not garner as much attention as locks or blades, pocket clips should be a critical part of your shopping process. Whether you adopt tip-up or tip-down conduct, it's of import to detect one that allows the knife to ride comfortably in your pocket. Generally, this means finding a clip that limits the amount of knife that peeks out of your jeans.
Non just is this cruddy, but information technology can hinder your range of motion when climbing hills or stairs. No 1 wants to scale a mountain with the handle of their pocket knife prodding them in the hip. The Benchmade Bugout and Civivi Elementum, for instance, are excellent examples of deep-deport clips done well.
Once the bract is open up, y'all'll desire a prune that disappears against the palm of your paw. Abrupt edges and foreign angles are the enemies of comfort hither.
Most makers include some sort of adjustability in their design, as well. Accept the prune on our top pick, the Spyderco Chapparal Lightweight — its wire frame can be easily swapped for left- or correct-handed pockets.
FAQ
What Is the Best Pocket Knife?
Similar and then many things in life, the answer to this question lies with the questioner. Do you spend about of your mean solar day in an office? You'll desire something lightweight and discreet, like the Spyderco Chapparal, Civivi Babe Banter, or Victorinox Cadet to a higher place.
Maybe you're a hiker or outdoor enthusiast. In that case, the Benchmade Bugout and Cold Steel Finn Wolf are excellent options.
What you want, in general, is a knife that'southward reliable, comfy to use, and piece of cake to carry. And while many pocket knives can serve equally multi-role tools, it never hurts to pick upward another one for specialized circumstances. Just be careful, every bit picking upwardly a new piece of gear here or in that location can quickly develop into a new hobby!
What Is the Best Pocket Knife Steel?
This question is only slightly less complicated than the ane above and involves nearly of the same use factors. If your daily tasks involve slicing paper and breaking down cardboard, you'll be well-served with the hardness of a steel like the CTS-XHP on our top pick. But if you lot find yourself dealing with wet material or environments, the LC200N on the Spyderco Salt 2 is pretty difficult to beat.
There are plenty of great all-around options equally well. S30V, S35VN, M390, Nitro-V, CPM-154 — all of these are respectable choices. What yous want to avoid are the no-name stainless steels as well as only virtually annihilation that has the letters "CR" near the kickoff of its title (8Cr13MoV, we're looking at you lot).
Become even deeper in our knife steel explainer.
What Is the Best Lock for a Pocket Knife?
As you'll notice, nigh of the knives listed in a higher place feature a back-lock mechanism. Information technology'southward a simple, tried-and-true pick just about everyone has operated at some indicate or some other. But that doesn't necessarily arrive the best. Common cold Steel's Tri-Ad lock, while similar, is one of the well-nigh robust locking mechanisms on the market.
Liner locks are another popular option. This variant uses a foliage leap on the within of the handle, which pops into place once the blade is opened. This is another strong design, though perhaps a touch on more finicky than the back lock.
Spyderco and Benchmade too feature their own mechanisms with the compression and Axis locks, respectively. Both of these provide good security for the blade while likewise upping the fidget cistron.
In curt, each of these locks has something to offer. If you're looking for simplicity, information technology's hard to beat the dorsum lock. Merely if yous're one of those people who enjoys snapping your pocketknife open and closed just for the fun of it, the Axis and compression setups take a lot to offer.
What Type of Pocket Knife Clip Is Best?
Over combined decades of comport, we've found that a depression-profile, tip-down configuration suits most people's needs. The reasons here are relatively simple. The lower the knife rides in your pocket, the less likely it is to impede the motility of your hip and leg.
Plus, the less it peeks out of your pocket, the less likely you lot are to depict unwanted attention. Wire-based or painted clips farther boost your conspicuousness.
As for tip-up, this is a no-brainer. While it sounds scarier, having the tip of the folded bract facing upwards while riding against the back seam of your pocket is overwhelmingly safer. This way, the rear of the pocket prevents the pocketknife from opening when stowed, ensuring that you don't jab yourself in the palm.
Are Serrations Good on a Pocket Knife?
The respond to this question is a resounding no 99% of the time. While many brands include these little metal teeth, they unremarkably diminish the overall functionality of a knife.
Serrations break up the edge of a blade, reducing your chapters for long, make clean slices. That's not to say they're useless, all the same. If you notice yourself dealing with a lot of rope or cordage, serrations are really quite beneficial. But when breaking downwardly cardboard, opening packages, slicing food, or etching, they're definitely more of a nuisance.
What'south the Best Size for a Pocket Knife?
For most individuals, we'd recommend a pocket knife with a bract about 3 inches. This comes from a variety of factors, not the to the lowest degree of which is legality. Many urban areas have restrictions when it comes to blade length, and some pout upon locking mechanisms altogether. Be certain to read up on your local laws before making a purchase decision.
Just beyond the legal complications, iii inches tends to exist the sweet spot betwixt behave-power and function. Information technology gives you enough reach to complete nearly daily tasks while still folding comfortably in the pocket.
And don't forget to bank check out the handle! Yous'll want something long plenty to most fill up your palm or at least provide a solid three-finger grip.
Are Automatic Knives Good for Everyday Carry?
In general, the reply is no. Automatic pocket knives are expensive, challenging to maintain, and nigh certainly illegal if you lot plan to travel to any kind of population centre.
While there's a certain appeal to the click-clack deployment offered past some of the more famous brands, many automatic pocket knives apply tactical-fantasy marketing that, at the very least, is disingenuous or misleading.
However, many reputable companies such as Benchmade offer a diversity of assisted-opening pocket knives. These can offer a more comfortable centre basis with less of the questionable legality.
Why Should I Carry a Pocket Knife?
From opening packages to slicing up food, pocket knives offering a wealth of utility. Rather than using your fingernails, a car key, or half of a pair of pair of scissors, pocket knives are a natural piece for people with a lot of tasks on their hands. This is particularly truthful for outdoor enthusiasts, who bargain with materials like rope, wood, and canvass all the time.
One reason you won't encounter on this list is self-defense. Despite what some industry marketing textile would atomic number 82 you to believe, carrying a pocket knife doesn't turn y'all into a commando or modern-day gladiator.
Unless you're a trained weapons skilful, you're simply every bit likely to hurt yourself as any would-be assailant. If you feel the demand to carry something for protection, you lot're far better off with a can of pepper spray. Pocket knives are all-time treated equally tools — not weapons.
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Source: https://gearjunkie.com/knives/best-pocket-knives
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