The Best Pocket Knives of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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I’ve been lucky enough to own and handle many of the best pocket knives, including production and custom blades. Now, the Fifth Amendment protects me from self-incrimination, so I won’t say how many knives I currently own, or have owned, because it’s possible that my wife will read this. However, I will say that I have been a prolific purchaser of cutlery since I got my first knife at age 5. I even started a sharpening business years ago just to fund my “hobby.” 

If you don’t want a drawer(s) full of knives and just want to find the best pocket knife for you, I’ve put together a list of the best pocket knives for a variety of users and uses. I didn’t randomly pick the following knives out of a hat. I’ve had many knives pass through my hands on the sharpening bench and in my collection, and have learned a lot about what makes a great pocket knife through hands-on experience. Nobody wants second-best anything, so here are my picks for the best pocket knives.

Best Overall: Flytanium Arcade

Best for $100: WE Banter

Best Budget: Civivi Qubit 

Best Slipjoint: QSP Hedgehog

Best Ultralight: Benchmade Bugout 535-3

Best for Saltwater: Benchmade Adira

Best Customizable: Gerber Assert

Best for Slicing: Spyderco Paramilitary 2

Best for Hard Use: Zero Tolerance Knives 0350

Best Budget USA Made: Kershaw Leek

Best Gentleman’s Pocket Knife: Zero Tolerance Knives 0452CF

Best for Kids: Opinel No.6

Best Tactical: Emerson Mini CQC-15

Benchmade 940

The Best High End Pocket Knives (Click to jump to this section)

Best Pocket Knives: Reviews and Recommendations

Best Overall: Flytanium Arcade

Key Features 

Blade Length: 3.2 inches

Overall Length: 7.7 inches

Weight: 3.2 ounces

Blade Steel: S35VN

Deployment Methods: Thumb stud or Shark-Lock tab

Demko Shark-Lock

6061 aluminum scales with G10 or Micarata insert

Uses ceramic pivot bearings 

Made in Taiwan

Price: $199

Pros

Excellent locking mechanism

Great action

Top cutting performance 

Customizable (50,000+ configurations) 

Easy to carry 

Ideal blade length-to-weight ratio

Lefty friendly 

Cons

Not the most exciting blade steel

Some will prefer G10 slabs or full titanium over the aluminum handles 

The Arcade was among the elite cutters in my test and it has one of the strongest lock designs ever made— Andrew Demko’s Shark-Lock. Those features combined with its scant weight, deep carry clip, and fun action propelled it to the Editor’s Choice win. 

Flytanium’s Arcade turned in the fastest cut course time by being good at all the cutting tasks rather than exceptional at one. While cutting cardboard head-to-head it held its own against the PM2, but the slicing edge went to the Spyderco. The Arcade excelled at the dowel cut, biting deep into the wood, and the comfortable ergos allowed me to put a lot of force behind the cuts. The blade has a nice straight section for cutting rope and a strong tip for piercing cuts. 

I personally think that S35VN is one of the best EDC steels, but I get that it’s not the newest and most exciting option available. I’d guess that as this knife gains in popularity we’ll see it offered in Magnacut or one of the other in-demand steels. More important than the chosen material is that the factory making Arcade has a good heat treat on their S35VN because it didn’t chip or lose sharpness throughout testing. 

The ergos are deceptively simple on the Arcade, but they’re well executed. You can choke up for detail cuts and make powerful cuts with the use of the aggressive jimping. In the oak dowel phase there was only slight discomfort around the grip’s edges, but nothing so harsh that I’d call it a hot spot. 

The Arcade I used for the test is my personal knife, so it’s seen a lot of pocket time. I’ve found it to be one of the nicest full-sized knives for EDC. It sits deep in the pocket and I barely notice it. One area it could be improved is a little more clip tension for more security with thinner pants materials. 

I’ve also tested Flytanium’s customer service. When I got my knife, it would click when pressure was applied to the spine. I emailed Flytanium who promptly sent me a shipping label and returned my knife back to me within a week in perfect working order. The customer service person I emailed with was kind and helpful throughout the whole process. 

Also Consider: Where’s the Demko AD20.5? I own an AD20.5 and carry it often. I tested it and it was one of the knives that did great, but ultimately came up just short of making the final cut. If you want a knife that has the Shark-Lock, but is more hard-use oriented than the Arcade, the AD20.5 is a fantastic option. I’d also take a look at Demko’s new slicer grind options and smaller Shark Cub. 

Read Next: Best Fixed Blade Knives

Best for $100: WE Banter

The WE Banter was one of the most surprising successes of the entire test. The knife doesn’t look like much—a simple blade and handle design. But when I hit its thumb stud I was immediately impressed by its satisfying action. Then I was blown away at how it chewed through the oak dowel quickly, and it did so without inducing even the slightest hot spot. That performance shook up my expectations of what a small knife can do. 

The action though, is really something special. It has that premium knife feel and an audible click as the blade locks open that is oh so sweet. You can easily pay three times the price of a Banter for the same experience. Like the Arcade, it wasn’t the top finisher at any one phase of the cut test, but very good at all of them. If you have a $100 budget, this is one of the best EDC knife options out there. 

Also Consider: WE’s more affordable brand, Civivi, makes a Banter model that’s around $50. It’s the same design with budget materials.

Best Budget: Civivi Qubit 

Key Features 

Blade Length: 2.98 inches

Overall Length: 7.19 inches

Weight: 2.82 ounces

Blade Steel: 14C28N

Deployment Method: Thumb stud

Button lock

Aluminum handles

Made in China 

Price: $60

Pros

Lefty friendly 

Great slicer 

Snappy action 

Cons

Finger choil is a little too small  

I tested so many great knives under $100 that I’m compelled to write a dedicated review on them. One that stood out in that impressive crowd was the Qubit. It out-cut all the others with its thin blade geometry and the nicely sculpted aluminum handles were comfortable during the toughest cuts. The Qubit’s biggest competition was the CJRB Pyrite. They’re both button locks with nice snappy actions. But the Qubit cut slightly better and lacked the Pyrite’s hotspots during heavy cutting. 

Best Slipjoint: QSP Hedgehog

Key Features 

Blade Length: 2.875 inches

Overall Length: 6.6 inches

Weight: 2.7 ounces

Deployment Methods: Nail nick and blade pinch

Blade Material: M390

Titanium or carbon fiber covers

Price: $145 (titanium) or $85 (carbon)

Pros

Light and easy to carry

Deep hollow grind makes for a slicey blade

Great walk and talk

Good fit and finish

Cons

Some slipjoint enthusiasts will prefer a more traditional pattern

I went from a slipjoint curious collector to carrying one daily, and among my pocket regulars is the excellent QSP Hedgehog. 

The sheepsfoot blade is easy to pinch and I’d judge the pull strength at a 6—slightly more than a Swiss Army Knife. It snaps into the half stop and then again into the open position. The walk and talk on the Hedgehog is a treat and while different from my Jack Wolf and Northwoods knives, is no less satisfying. It has a very unique sound, especially when opening to the half stop. 

The blade is tall and features a deep hollow grind, which makes it an incredible slicer. It’s one of the most fun knives to cut with and it passes through rope, cardboard, and plastic with very little resistance.

Best Ultralight: Benchmade Bugout 535-3

Key Features

Blade Length: 3.25 inches

Steel: S90V

Handle: Carbon fiber

Weight: 2 ounces

Lock: Axis

Price: $298

Pros 

Great edge retention 

Extremely light 

Cons

Some fit and finish flaws 

The Benchmade Bugout comes in several trim levels, ranging in price from $160 to $540. The price fluctuates with the materials. If you want a super steel and carbon fiber, it’s going to cost you. But, all the models share the same blade shape, ergonomics, and locking mechanism. 

The Bugout has a drop-point blade that puts the tip in the knife’s centerline. That feature makes it intuitive to know where the point is while you’re working. The belly has a gentle sweep, which is useful for a lot of cutting tasks. If I had to choose one blade shape for all my knives, the Bugout’s drop point would be it. 

Bugouts make great hunting companions. Seth Schuster

In a pinch grip or power grip, the Bugout is fantastically comfortable and the handle is deceptively detailed. The top of the handle has a slight drop from front to back. The bottom of the grip locks your index finger into place to prevent slipping and has just enough of a pinkie hook to give you extra grip. The pocket clip is reversible and the thumb studs are easy to hit with a thumb or middle finger. The axis lock makes one handed opening and closing a cinch. You can buy a Bugout with S30V, S90V, or M390 steel. All three steels are close in their toughness. M390 has the best corrosion resistance, S90V has the best edge retention, and S30V is the most affordable. -Scott Einsmann

Read our full review of the best electric knife sharpeners if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to sharpen your pocket knives.

Best for Saltwater: Benchmade Adira

Key Features 

Blade Length: 3.8 inches

Overall Length: 9 inches

Weight: 4.2 ounces

Available in full size and mini

Deployment Methods: Thumbstud

Blade Material: Magnacut

Grivory handle

Price: $250

Pros

Highly corrosion resistant

Durable blade shape and edge grind

Comes very sharp from the factory

Cons

I’d prefer a thinner, slicier blade for this role

The Adira is the author’s go-to kayak fishing knife.

If you take a standard pocket knife, even in a stainless steel, and submerge it in saltwater you’ll get some rust spots. Not to mention the damage saltwater will do the screws, bearings, and other small parts. But, the Adira is built to treat that type of abuse as just another day on the job. I wore the Adira swimming in saltwater, and didn’t rinse it after. A week later it was still pristine. I’ve been using it as my go-to kayak fishing knife where it cuts bait and bleeds out fish. Its sharp edge and Maganacut’s inherent toughness means I can go right through bones and gill plates without worrying about edge damage.

The full size option is a big knife, and I think most people will prefer the mini for EDC and typical cutting tasks. If you’re a diver, crabber, or you’ll use the Adira as a bait knife, the full size option is the way to go. Its long blade is ideal for cutting rope and you’ll have plenty of purchase even when wearing gloves.

It’s worth noting that Magnacut is highly stain resistant, but it’s not the most rust proof steel option available. I’d recommend rinsing and drying the knife after a dip in the salt, even though mine has thrived on neglect. Do as I say, not as I do.

— Scott Einsmann

Best Customizable: Gerber Assert

Key Features

Blade Length: 2.98 inches

Steel: S30V

Weight: 1.87 ounces

Lock: Pivot Lock

Customizable blade, handle, and hardware

Made in USA

Price: $175

Pros 

Easy and comfortable to carry

One handed opening and closing

Comfortable to use

Cons

Not as “flippy” as some knives

With some knives, the color scheme is predetermined at the factory and you either like it or you don’t. But, the Gerber Assert is customizable in that you can choose the blade finish, hardware color, and handle color. I went with the topographic, stonewashed blade, a green handle, and orange back spacers. The process was fun and easy to do on the Gerber site, and they sent me my customized knife a few weeks later (custom orders take 12 to 15 days to ship).

The author cut through 20 feet of cardboard while testing the Assert. Scott Einsmann

I started carrying my new EDC knife daily and put it to use opening packages, cutting twine, and harvesting vegetables from the garden. After a few weeks of use the edge was still sharp enough to push cut paper. So, I grabbed a long piece of 2-foot wide cardboard and started cutting strips. After slicing through 20 feet of cardboard the edge finally dulled to the point it couldn’t push cut paper. After two minutes on the strop it was right back to slicing though—a testament to a good heat treat.

The Assert is a comfortable knife to carry and it’s the sort of blade that disappears in your pocket thanks to its size, deep carry clip, and light weight. You can one hand deploy the Assert with the adjustable thump stud or the fuller. Although, it doesn’t fire open like some of the best flippers on the market. But if you use your knife as a tool, rather than a fidget spinner, you’ll be happy with the action.

Read Next: Best Hunting Knives

Best Slicer: Spyderco Para Military 2 

Key Features 

Blade Length: 3.42 inches

Overall Length: 8.24 inches

Weight: 3.9 ounces

Blade Steel: S30V (others available)

Deployment Method: Hole 

Compression lock

G10 scales

Made in the USA

Price: $180

Pros

Lots of sharpening life

Good ergonomics

Lefty friendly 

Cons

Hot spots created by the pocket when in the tip down position 

Delicate tip

Some knives have a lot of hype and then they fade away, but the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 is the complete opposite of those flashes in the pan. It’s stood the test of time and continues to be a top EDC knife because as Doug Marcaida would say, “It will cut.”

The PM2’s cut time performance was good, but what solidified the PM2 as the top slicer was when I lined up the five best cutters in the test and started cutting cardboard with them. I made a cut with each and then eliminated the one that had the most resistance. I did that until there was one left standing, and to no one’s surprise the PM2 was the champ. While not surprising that it won, it was nice to confirm its legendary slicing ability. 

Best for Hard Use: Zero Tolerance Knives 0350

Key Features

Made in the U.S.

3.25-inch drop point recurve blade

S30V steel

Extra thick liner lock

6.2 ounces

Pros

Feels like a little tank in your hand

Lots of traction with milled G-10 and jimping where you need it

Opens with a flipper tab or thumb studs

Drop point blade shape is useful and strong

Cons

Feels like a little tank in your pocket

Recurve portion of the blade takes a little know-how to sharpen well

The ZT 0350 is built to excel at hard jobs. Drew Conover

The ZT 0350 gets the nod for the best pocket knife for hard use because it’s big and tough, but not so big and tough that it’s a pain to carry. This is about the best pocket knives, after all. There are bigger and stronger hard use knives, but the 0350 is the best blend of carry and toughness. I have owned three of these over the years, and I always liked them a lot. Pretty comfy in hand, and I never felt like I didn’t have enough knife for what I was doing. 

The ergonomics are designed with hard use in mind. The flipper tab doubles as a finger guard to prevent slipping forward onto the cutting edge for stabbing or thrusting cuts, which is great for a hard use knife. The blade is fairly heavy and stout, so the spring assist makes deployment much faster and easier than others that are manual opening. 

Even though this blade is strong all the way out to the tip, it’s actually a pretty good slicer. Most of the time, the really overbuilt blades are prybars with semi-sharpened edges. The 0350 manages to be tough while still functioning well as a knife. ZT has a solid warranty, but it’s doubtful that you will ever need to use it. This knife is made to take some punches. 

Best Budget USA Made: Kershaw Leek

Key Features

Made in the U.S.

Sandvik steel 

3-inch Wharncliffe-style blade

Liner lock

3 ounces

Pros

Fast and reliable Speedsafe spring assist mechanism

Compact design fits in any pocket 

Blade lock can be used to prevent accidental opening

Can use flipper tab or thumb studs to open blade

Cons

No option for left-handed carry

Can feel a bit small for larger hands

The Kershaw Leek’s features make it the best assisted opening pocket knife. The blade is light, so it zips out lightning fast and with a satisfying snap. It’s everything that an assisted opening knife should be: fast, reliable, and safe. Another plus is the Speedsafe System that Kershaw uses does not qualify as an automatic knife, so it’s legal almost everywhere. 

The Leek is compact, but feels solid, and is quite strong thanks to the stainless steel handles. The Sandvik 14C28N steel may be a bit of a tongue twister, but in my experience, Kershaw does a very good job on the heat treat and gets solid performance from this steel. Kershaw makes quite a few good assisted knives, and I almost chose the Kershaw Blur for this category, as it’s another fantastic assisted knife, but I am partial to the Leek’s styling and slightly faster deployment. 

Best Gentleman’s Pocket Knife: Zero Tolerance Knives 0452CF

Key Features

Made in USA

4.1-inch drop point blade

CPM-S35VN steel

Titanium Frame Lock

4.4 ounces

Pros

Premium materials including titanium, carbon fiber, and powdered steel

Super smooth action using caged ball bearings (KVT system)

Comfortable ergonomics

Way more blade than you expect

Cons

Way more blade than you expect

Right-hand carry only

The ZT 0452CF will spoil you with its super smooth ball bearings and perfect detent that give it an amazing flipper action. It will be hard to look at your other knives the same way after you flick this blade open. The stonewashed titanium and carbon fiber add good looks to the mix, and premium touches like a lock bar insert and milled pivots put this pocket knife over the top. 

In hand, the 0452CF feels very nice and comfortable, and the blade shape lends itself to being good at nearly every EDC cutting task you will come up against. The first time you open this knife, you will be amazed at the blade length. My initial impressions were that it was a pocket sword. But it was also very controllable, and didn’t feel like a bigger knife.

A deep carry pocket clip keeps things discreet at the office, and no one will know you’re packing a blade that’s over 4 inches because the contoured titanium and carbon fiber help this disappear in pocket with a relatively narrow and slim form factor. And let’s face it: a gentleman should make a quiet statement, and this knife certainly does that. 

Best for Kids: Opinel No.6

Key Features

Made in France

2.9-inch blade

Stainless or carbon steel 

Easy-to-use lock

Beechwood handle

Only 1 ounce

Pros

Rotating collar-style lock easy to use for smaller hands

Wooden handle and frame can be painted, colored, carved, or burned 

Comfortable handle shape

Inexpensive

Cons

Carbon steel blade can rust if left out in the elements

Opinel makes a wide variety of sizes from around two inches all the way up to over 12 inches, but the No.6 is the “just right” size for a new knife user. The rotating collar lock (Virobloc lock) can be used to either hold the blade open or lock it shut. My daughters found that it was the easiest lock style for them to use. The lock on this knife does not automatically engage, which helps new knife users to slow down and think about everything they are doing. Also, fingers are never in the path of the blade while closing, which is a plus over styles such as liner and frame locks. 

Let’s face it, sometimes kids lose stuff, and at well-under $20, you won’t be heart-broken if it gets misplaced. To avoid my daughter’s from getting misplaced, I drilled a hole in the back for a lanyard then attached it via a carabiner to her backpack. The Opinel No. 6 is super lightweight, customizable, comfortable, and easy to use, which makes it the best pocket knife for kids to learn on. 

Best Tactical Knife: Emerson Mini CQC-15

Key Features

Made in the U.S.

3.5-inch blade 

154CM steel hybrid tanto/recurve blade

Titanium liner lock

4.5 ounces

Pros

Wave feature on the blade catches the edge of your pocket to open the knife upon exit

Chisel sharpened for easy field care

Pivot adjustment can be made with a coin

High traction milled G-10 handle scales

The 154CM steel is relatively easy to sharpen, but holds an edge well 

Cons

Wave feature has potential to catch other objects in pocket and partially open, though rare

Right-hand carry only—left-hand carry option costs additional $25 from factory

The Emerson Mini CQC-15 is the best tactical pocket knife that can pull double duty as an EDC blade. The “Wave” is Emerson’s signature feature. It catches on your pocket as you pull the knife out and automatically opens the blade.

The high-traction finish on the handle and deep finger choil/guard make for a very secure grip, but isn’t comfortable for prolonged use. Another signature feature is the chisel grind, where the edge bevel is only ground in from one side. The idea is that it could be sharpened on a rock in the field more easily than a traditional double-sided bevel. I haven’t tried sharpening it on a rock, so I can’t verify. The bottom line is that while many knives dabble in the tacti-cool realm, the Emerson is an actual tactical blade. There is a reason that the Emerson blades are popular in Military and LEO circles. 

Read Next: Best Self Defense Knives

Benchmade 940

Key Features

Made in the U.S.

3.4-inch blade

S30V steel

Ambidextrous AXIS lock

Aluminum and titanium handle

2.9 ounces

The Benchmade 940 is easy to carry and quick to deploy. Drew Conover

Pros

Top-notch warranty and customer service

High-end materials in both handle and blade

Easy to carry and quickly deploy

Blade design gives a strong tip for hard work

Smaller form factor makes carrying easy for any attire

Cons

Finish on aluminum feels “chalky” until its broken in

I have referred to the Benchmade 940 Osborne as the “Mary Poppins of pocket knives” because it’s practically perfect in every way. This is obviously subjective, but many knife nuts share my opinion. Comfortable, easy to carry, nearly impossible to kill, and backed by a company that stands by their product. For example, if you manage to bend the clip, Benchmade will send you up to three per year free of charge. Most companies don’t match that. They will also sharpen it for free for life. 

Its lock design makes it easy to use with either hand, even with gloves o n. Add to that a long blade-to-handle ratio, and modest form factor in your pocket, and you have a winner. I have been beating on mine relentlessly for about eight years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The Benchmade 940 was an easy choice for the best EDC Pocket Knife.

Read Next: Benchmade 940 Review

The Best High-End Pocket Knives

Top to bottom: Hinderer XM-18, Brown Mini FSD-I, Oz Machine Co. Roosevelt, and the Koenig Arius.

Scott Einsmann

Oz Machine Co. Roosevelt

The Roosevelt isn’t a knife that’s meant to sit in a drawer or be handled with white gloves. It has a utilitarian finish and it’s been designed specifically to be carried. Keep that in mind if you’re looking to pick one of these up. 

I put my Roosevelt through the cut test and it did great, but it didn’t blow the other knives out of the water. It’s a knife with a full-flat grind and a good blade shape—it’ll cut stuff. Where it shines is its incredible ergonomics, engineering, and build quality. The grip was the most comfortable and secure I tested. The amount of blade and handle the Roosevelt has for its folded size is an engineering marvel. It’s also incredibly light for its size. Of course, the build quality is top notch and it has an elite-level action. 

If price and availability weren’t a factor, the Roosevelt would be my pick for the best EDC knife. I don’t think there’s a better designed and built knife for daily carry available. But, you just can’t get them without paying a ton or getting lucky on a drop. 

Brown Knives Mini FSD-I

If you want an expensive folding knife with instantly recognizable quality, the FSD-I is your knife. It looks and feels high end without being gaudy. The action is the best I’ve experienced and it goes beyond being just smooth—it’s a controlled, hydraulic like  smoothness. The detent is just strong enough for the blade to fire out with a reverse flick or the front flipper, but it’s not so strong that you can’t smoothly roll out the knife with your thumb. The machine work is impeccable and there are a lot of neat machining Easter eggs to find. As pretty as the knife is, it’s still a tool and it cuts very well thanks to its hollow grind. 

Hinderer XM-18

I get that Rick Hinderer can be polarizing, but there’s no denying his company makes a superb overbuilt folder. The XM-18 is my favorite knife in this class and I think it lives up to the hype. For EDC the 3-inch, non-flipper variant is my top choice. I carry the 3.5-inch non flipper, which is also a great choice if you don’t mind its size. 

Koenig Arius

The Arius is like the FSD in that it looks and feels like a quality knife. The flipper action is insanely good, but it’s kind of a one trick pony. My knife’s detent is a little too strong for a reliable reverse flick and it doesn’t roll out for the same reason. The pocket clip on mine is also too tight and I can’t fully clip it onto jeans. Yet, it’s still one of my favorite knives because of the deep hollow grind, great looks, comfortable ergonomics, and fun flipper action. 

Things to Consider when Choosing a Knife

There is a lot to look at when choosing the best pocket knife in any given category. In the world of pocket knives, options range from $5 to $5,000. There are knives with blades that are under an inch up to nearly a foot. Blade steels range from barely better than a chunk of angle iron to the latest super-steels. Here are a few tips on how to sort through a variety of blades and find the right pocket knife for you. 

Picking the best pocket knife always comes down to what you need to use it for. Pictured: the Benchmade 940. Drew Conover

The first thing you want to determine is what you intend to use the knife for. For example, a hard use knife has a much different intended use and environment than a kid’s first knife. One has to be able to pierce, pry, and have maximum grip, and one has to be light and easy to use and really only stand up to the abuse of whittling a stick. While considering how you’ll use your knife, realize that features come at a trade-off. For example, you can have a knife that slices well like the PM2, but it won’t be as durable as a thicker blade like a Benchmade Adamas

Read Next: Best Survival Knives

Another big consideration is how easy the knife is to carry. For me, this is a big one. The shape and size of the knife, when closed, have the biggest effect on this. If I can’t get my hand past my knife to get other things in my pocket, that’s a real concern. Pocket clips also make a difference in how the knife rides and carries, and their designs are more important than you might think. 

Finally, look at the blade steel. I have owned knives that performed and carried well, but the steel was lacking. That meant I was constantly sharpening it, or it was so hard and brittle that I was always fixing chips. Some steel is super easy to sharpen but won’t hold an edge, and some steel will cut forever, but take you an eternity to sharpen. The ideal steel finds a happy balance between the two. Also, avoid blades with ambiguous labels like “surgical stainless.” There’s a lot to learn about blade steels, but I think it’s worth the time investment. 

FAQs

Q: How much does a pocket knife cost?

Knives on this list of best pocket knives range from less than $20, to well over $200. I have found that knives priced from $100-$250 usually offer the most for your money (with a few exceptions). You will generally get very good quality, good blade steel, well-thought-out design, good warranty, and a lot of trouble-free use.

Q: What is the best pocket knife steel?

This depends heavily on the intended use. Some applications require pure edge retention, while others favor steel with more toughness (resistance to breaking). For general use, S30V is a great steel that will hold an edge well, and will also sharpen up without too much trouble. It’s miles better than most blades steel out there, but it’s not a hard-to-sharpen and expensive super steel either. 

Q: Is it illegal to carry a pocket knife?

Knife laws are sometimes complicated and arbitrary. Check with your local jurisdiction to be sure the type of knife you want is legal in your area. Knifeup.com and akti.org (American Knife and Tool Institute) both have large databases for state and local laws. 

Q: What is the best pocket knife brand?

Top pocket knife brands include Benchmade, Spyderco, CRKT, Buck, Kershaw, Case, and Zero Tolerance.

Read Next: The Best Camping Knives of 2023

Final Thoughts on the Best Pocket Knives

I have been hooked on pocket knives since my dad gave me a Swiss Army Knife at age 5. Having a knife opened a world of possibilities to me at that time, and to this day, a pocket knife is an essential tool that I am never without. 

The best pocket knives on this list have all been vetted, tested, and proven. Picking up any one of them will be a great addition to your collection or the perfect springboard to launch you into a knife addiction, I mean, hobby. Think of your knife as a tool: pick the tool that will best suit the work you are doing, and it will be the best pocket knife for you. 

The post The Best Pocket Knives of 2024, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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