Hey everyone - What’s the best pocket knife you’ve found? I’m thinking of buying one to take on camping trips, and also to use for DIY projects around the house. I’d really like to find a long lasting tool. There are so many different pocket knives out there and they can be pretty pricey so I want to make sure I’m getting the best one. Any suggestions?
#1 KUBEY
#1 KUBEY
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I’ve been highly impressed with the Kubey KU074 folding pocket knife. It’s a really well designed, super sharp, everyday carry knife that’s great for outdoor use, although it also comes in handy around the house, especially for opening cardboard boxes. I always take it along on my fishing trips. It flips open and closed very smoothly, and the liner lock secures the sheepsfoot blade safely in place. There’s a sturdy metal clip for attaching it to my belt, and the grooved handle is exceptional -- it’s comfortable to hold and never slips or gets sweaty.
@Mike Cahill, do you have to sharpen the blade on a regular basis?
In my experience, it stays sharp for a long while, even with frequent use. It’s very hard D2 (high carbon, high chromium) steel, so it doesn’t blunt easily, and it arrived razor sharp. Every so often, I use my honing rod to retouch the edge and it’s as good as new.
The D2 blade on the Kubey is fantastic for edge retention. At 3.4”, it’s just the right length for my outdoor needs. And it’s a good thickness, at 4 mm, so it cuts through rope, wood, and plastic without any problem. The blade came perfectly centered and balanced. I highly recommend this and all other Kubey knives!
I definitely agree with this choice. The Kubey KU074 is a great EDC knife, and there’s nothing that comes close to it for the price. It’s surprisingly lightweight, considering how rugged the blade is. The ballbearing pivot makes it incredibly satisfying to flip open and closed, and the spring action keeps it closed, so it will never, ever open in your pocket.
This knife is a perfect example of form meeting function. I love the combination of mirror and brushed steel, and the contoured handle is very attractive and comfortable to grip.
#2 Victorinox
#2 Victorinox
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If you’re alright with a small, thin-blade knife, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife. I’ve carried one with my car keys for as long as I can remember. It’s nice to have it there whenever I need it.
I’ve had a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife since I was a kid. I can’t say that I use it regularly, but it’s very compact and looks cool. I sometimes use the knife for opening letters, and the scissors are great for cutting thread and string, although they’re a little flimsy. ... Probably the tweezers and the toothpick are the most useful tools!Read more
These are great little presents for kids that won’t break the bank.. I’ve given Victorinox pocket knives as Christmas gifts to all of my grandchildren. They’re really well made and come with a lifetime guarantee, so I know they’re quality products. There are lots of different colors and designs to choose from, and girls like them, too!
I hope you warned your grandkids to be very careful with the knife blade … it is extremely sharp and doesn’t lock open! I bought one for my son when he joined the Boy Scouts and he nicked his finger almost immediately. Even a knife as small and cute as this can still be dangerous.
#3 MTech USA
#3 MTech USA
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The MTech USA is a solid choice for a functional yet inexpensive utility knife, as long as you’re in the market for something big and beefy. If not, this isn’t the knife for you. In my opinion, the black stainless steel looks very cool, although I don’t know what grade it is. ... I haven’t tried sharpening the blade yet, but the edge has held up pretty well so far.Read more
I wouldn’t rely on it at work, but the MTech is a good camping knife. It does what I need it to, but I wouldn’t be heartbroken if it got lost or damaged. The blade is thick but not that difficult to sharpen if you have a pull-through sharpener ... like the Mercer Double Diamond. Just run it through a few times to get a decent edge, although don’t expect it to ever be razor-sharp.Read more
The blade on the MTech is decent, but the rest of the knife is pretty lacking. I’m wary of the locking mechanism, which doesn’t work consistently and makes this knife very dangerous to use. I think it’s probably out of alignment. ... Making matters worse, the spring-assisted opening mechanism stopped working properly after a few months, so I have to open it manually.Read more
I purchased this knife as a rescue tool. It has a seatbelt cutter and a glass breaker for automotive emergencies. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use them, but I keep it in my glove compartment just in case.
The seatbelt cutter works as a bottle opener … and that’s pretty much all it’s good for! If I were you, I would invest in an actual window breaker for your vehicle, rather than depending on this.
#4 Slice
#4 Slice
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I’m very safety conscious when it comes to pocket knives, so I like the Slice folding utility blade. I’m left-handed, and it’s nice to have a knife that works for lefties. The finger loop is comfortable and gives you more cutting control. The tip of the Slice blade is rounded and finger-friendly, but sharp enough ... to do a decent job cutting cardboard, foam, and cables. It’s not as sharp as metal razor blade tools, but it’s incredibly safe.Read more
I replaced the provided blade with one that has a pointed tip, otherwise it was almost impossible to cut through cardboard and plastic!
@Madelyn Stovall, what is the Slice blade made from? I’ve read that it’s “metal free” ...
It’s a double-sided ceramic blade -- specifically, zirconium oxide. Ceramic blades are harder than metal, so they’re supposed to stay sharper and last longer. ... There’s a little button that looks like it would make it fairly straightforward to release and replace the blade, although I haven’t had to do that yet.Read more
My boyfriend likes the Slice folding knife, but I think it’s unnecessarily heavy and pretty expensive for a box cutter, which is basically what this is. Opening the blade is a little unwieldy … I would prefer something that I can open with one hand.
#5 Gerber EAB
#5 Gerber EAB
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I recommend the Gerber EAB. It’s a lightweight stainless steel utility knife that fits in the pocket of my overalls. I’m not a big fan of sharpening knives -- I prefer utility knives with replaceable razor blades. When the blade on my Gerber gets a bit dull, I just turn it over or replace it. ... Just be aware that the blade on this is much thicker than a standard utility razor blade! You might want to try a few brands, but I’ve found that Stanley extra heavy duty utility blades work pretty well with this.Read more
I travel a lot, and I can take my Gerber utility knife with me, even on airplanes. I just throw out the old blade before going to the airport and then buy a new set of blades when I get to my destination. ... There’s a money clip on this knife, but it’s very stiff -- a proper belt clip would have been much more useful. Read more
I’ve had some difficulty replacing the blade -- the screw is very tiny (and strips easily!) so it’s a real hassle whenever the blade gets dull. I wish this knife had some kind of button to quickly release the blade so I didn’t have to use a screwdriver every time.
This is more of a box cutter than an actual pocket knife. With the glaring exception of those cheap screws, it’s well made, and hefty enough so that it doesn’t wobble. The liner lock keeps the blade secure ... when you have it open, although opening and closing the knife requires far more effort than I’d like.Read more
#6 Boker
#6 Boker
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Have you heard of the Boker Copperhead pocket knife? It has a beautiful bone handle and two high carbon stainless steel blades, each almost 3” long. It has a great weight to it. I had expected there to be a blade lock ... but there isn’t one, so I have to be careful that it doesn’t close on me when in use. It’s very sharp and holds an edge well with regular honing.Read more
When I bought this knife I was expecting it to come with a leather sheath, as advertised, but the sheath never arrived. That doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a beautifully crafted knife, but for the price ... I expected it to come with a sheath, especially since I purchased this as a birthday present for my dad, and it’s too big for him to carry around in his pocket.Read more