5 Best Pocket Knives
These are just a few thoughts that would come to mind when one thinks about pocket knives, but there is a lot more to it than it meets the eye.
Do I need one?
What would I do with it?
Does it serve any purpose having one?
Who carries a knife nowadays?
I would not know what to look for if I wanted to get one, all that I know about knives is that they are mostly found in the kitchen drawer and used for cutting, carving, slicing, icing etc. etc. and mostly used by most of us for cooking.
Not only does it serve a practical purpose but is definitely a collector’s item as well. One does not have to be a hunter to have or appreciate one. It is like having another handy tool added to your collection of tools if you have one or a good way to start one.
You will be surprised with how much help you would get having one than the other way around. Here are a few chores which would be so much doable if you had a pocket knife…….
- Opening up a box that has been gum taped (heavily)
- Getting rid of tags and strings
- Cutting a rope
- Sharing an apple with a loved one
- Opening up a letter (yes even in this age of email, we do get snail mail)
- Going for a camping trip
- Going for hunting
- …..
I am sure this list has convinced you to owning one. We all face the above situations and a lot more which requires handling it in manly and professional way. We could do it some other way as well but would it be that much fun?
The information below will help you learn about various characteristics about each one, what you want to have is something that attracts you which may be anything from the looks or its practicality. Our purpose is to help you reach the decision based on your preference.
Top Pocket Knives
1. Spyderco Tenacious Pocket Knife
- Blade length 3 3/8″ (86mm)
- Blade steel 8CR13MOV
- Weight 4oz (115g)
- Handle material G-10
What more can I say about this…. It is light weight, practical and a lot more. The thumbhole use is fun and the snap not only sounds good but is also fast. The smooth operations not only pertains to the knife itself but also to the clip which at times becomes a lot more to handle than the knife itself where the two do not complement each other in other knives. The blade positioning is perfectly centered when closed which is shaped and sized pretty well. The handle material is good, the lock up is great and offers a practical jimping.
If you can ignore the default clip tip down, the bolts used for clips that give way and have to make an effort to keep the blade rust free – this is definitely something that will catch your eye.
2. Buck 110 Hunting Pocket Knife
- Foldable hunting knife with nail-notch lock back design
- Opens easily and closes safely during any activity
- 3-3/4-inch stainless-steel clip blade for detail work
- Natural wood-grain handles and polished brass bolsters
- Includes black leather sheath; unconditional lifetime warranty
If you love the old and bulky cars of the 60’s and the word “classic” raises your eye brow, the smooth operating razor sharp blade (as smooth as silk), then this just needs to be in your collection.
This will help you skin your game or help you shave depending what you need. Am sure this gives you the broad practicality it holds which I am sure gives you an idea how it may fit your requirement. This can surely be passed from a father to a son and an all rounder in use. Not only will it remain in the family and passed on from one generation to the other, it will have stories associated to it as it changes hands.
Size does matter so this weighs as much as it should which a classic lover can ignore.
3. Benchmade Mini Griptilian Combo Pocket Knife
- Blade Length: 2.91″
- Overall Length/Closed Length: 6.78″ / 3.87″
- Blade Material/Hardness: 154CM Stainless Steel/ 58-60 HRC
- Blade Style: Modified Drop-Point ; Ambidextrous Thumb-studs
- Lock Mechanism: AXIS Lock
Simple looking yet beautiful but that also means ideal sized, practical and easy to operate. The jimping is adequate and quality has been maintained while putting this knife together.
One may expect the knife to be sharp compared to what is available in the market at half the price or less but then again the importance of this may vary for each one of us. The grip could have been better but I guess holding a knife is also like driving a car, each one gives a different feel, so the choice is yours. Perfect for an average sized male.
4. Kershaw Ken Onion Blur Pocket Knife
- Steel: Sandvik 14C28N, DLC coating
- Handle: 6061-T6 Anodized aluminum, Trac-tec inserts
- Blade Length: 3 3/8 inches; Closed Length: 4 1/2 inches; Weight: 4 ounces
- Tip up or tip down pocket clip; Made in the USA
- Speed safe opener; Liner lock locking system
A quick draw like a western movie showdown, this can easily be called as “Fast & Ferocious”. The good sized, razor sharp slim blade is there for rugged or normal/everyday use. The operations are smooth and the grip is good because of the nice texture. It is corrosion resistant and the torsion bar provides the much needed good safety. The pre drilled holes allow you to carry it tip up or down depending on what you prefer.
Apart from the weak thumb jumping or the tight pocket clip, it ticks on almost all the boxes used to scrutinize it.
5. Smith & Wesson M&P Assisted Opening Pocket Knife
- 3.6″ blade, 5.0″ handle
- 4034 Stainless Steel
- Spring assisted opening
- Integrated glass breaker
- 7.6 ounces
This may seem big and heavy, but if it matches your built and personality, you will enjoy this robust knife. Not only it is very sharp with a fast “Clint Eastwood” like draw, the overall workman ship is really good. It has a smooth mechanism and also gives a glass break at the bottom.
The steel for the blade could have been better and that is why it needs sharpening. Strong, sturdy, built like a tank, if one wants to feel macho, this is the one for you.
The pocket clamp may require wrestling skills and the safety does not really meet the benchmark as per desire.
Carrying a pocket knife was at one point in time considered a sign of manliness, may be because of the 1st Century Romans or the 16th Century colonials. It did not matter if one was a soldier, farmer or a lawyer, the practicality was shared by all across not matter from which walk of life they belonged to.
Nowadays, the metal detectors or security barriers may not allow one to carry this around but still it does not give one, big enough an excuse to let go of the tradition. We may not be as brilliant as MacGyver yet we can see a practical use of owning and carrying one around in our everyday lives.
We have analyzed the knives by their sharpness, weight, styling, size, safety, practicality, price, material used and a few other characteristics which we felt were important to look into.
At the end of the day, it is just like buying any personal male item like a wallet, watch or a pen. Not only does it have to look good but feel good and something which gives you pride in owning. So which one is would you consider to be your “Best Pocket Knife”?
How to choose a Pocket Knife
The blade
As you’d expect the blade is that the heart and soul of the knife and in particular else it has to be sharp. Razor sharp! A boring blade is like having an unloaded gun, it defeats the aim of getting a knife within the 1st place. Of course, knife manufacturers grasp this and that they place plenty of emphasis on the blade – what it’s manufactured from, how it reacts beneath stress, how straightforward it’s to sharpen if required, how it’ll resist corrosion and the way strong it is. You’ll usually notice the most effective pocket knives are effective steel suited to the most application the knife was designed for.
The handle
A quality handle ought to be powerful, resilient and will not absorb any wet. an honest example of a material that exhibits these properties is G-10 that may be a fiberglass based mostly laminate that demonstrates lowest water absorption. What’s a lot of necessary is the style.
Design and ergonomic
Nothing else matters if the knife is poorly designed and obtaining the correct ergonomics may be a key a part of the look process. In basic terms, ergonomics refers to how comfortable the knife feels in your hand. a top quality knife designer will produce one thing that sounds like an extension of your hand.
Value for cash
The truth for many people is that we are restricted to a budget and wish to induce the utmost performance within these limits. This is often why we tend to pay specific attention to price for cash. Several knives on the market these days are merely expensive for what they are. The great news is that there also are lots of wonderful price for cash choices and if you look onerous enough it’s doable to search out variety of top of the range knives while not breaking the bank.
Its Utility
Are you searching for a simple knife that you’ll only use it as a knife or are you simply looking for a knife with additional features? According to the function that the knife will perform, look for the pocket knife that has the best features to perform those functions. If you’re hunter, a hunting knife is probably all you need. On the other hand if you want more flexibility, a folding knife is your best bet. Simply put, the rule of the thumb to finding an ideal knife is its ability to meet your expectations. So, don’t compromise on utility.
Safety
Do you want a locking blade or not? The locking blades are much safer to use than the other blades. This is because it prevents the knife from folding when you are using it. If you are interested in having a pocket knife with safety features, you definitely need the single locking blade.
Please don’t Miss our other hunting gear reviews like Best Field Dressing Knives, Best Hunting Knife Sharpeners, Best Hunting Fanny Packs, Best Base Layers For Cold Weather Hunting and Best Swiss Army Knife.