In the world of outdoor gear, pocket knives have become a staple. They’re everywhere, from the display cases at REI to the checkout lanes at your local hardware store. But with so many to choose from, it can be a daunting task to find out which one is right for you.

　　In 2024, weve seen newer brands like Civivi and WE Knife rise up to take on the likes of Benchmade and CRKT. By coming in at a lower price point, they threw a curve ball at the industry; possibly redefining what it means to be “premium”.

　　So! Here we are — your headlight in the fog — with a collection of knives that we think are the best of the best available on the market today. Each one of these knives has been tested thoroughly to determine why they deserve the prestige of being considered the best of the best.

　　Below you’ll find a roster of blades offering the best mix of capability, construction, and value the industry has to offer. Check out our top picks at the links below or scroll through to browse for yourself. At the end of our list, be sure to check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide, comparison chart, and frequently asked questions.

　　Editors Note: Were keeping this guide fresh for summer with a May 19, 2024 update, adding the unique WESN Allman. This fat-bellied, stout little knife is a great option for EDC and a versatile tool for any number of tasks around the house.

　　The Best Pocket Knives of 2024 Best Overall Pocket Knife: Benchmade Freek Best Budget Pocket Knife: Civivi Conspirator Best Multitool/Knife Combo: Victorinox Huntsman Best Hiking / Outdoors Knife: WE Knife Big Banter Best Tactical Knife: Benchmade CLA Best Dress Knife: CRKT CEO Microflipper Best Overall Pocket Knife Benchmade Freek Specs OAL 8.46” Blade Length 3.6” Blade Steel S90V (Stainless) Blade Shape Drop Point Lock Type Axis (Crossbar) Weight 4.12 oz.

　　Pros S90V Blade Steel Ritter RST Blade Ramp Axis Lock Cons S90V is hard to sharpen Pocket clip is under-sized Nick LeFort In order to make it to the top of this list, a knife needs to be the best of the best of the best. In testing, we quickly found that the Benchmade Freek ($350) checked off all of the boxes we had in terms of what we expected from this year’s “best overall” pocket knife.

　　From the S90V drop point blade to the carbon fiber scales, there’s no questioning that the Freek is a premium knife. Just like with all of the other Benchmade folders we’ve had the joy of playing with, the Axis lock brings an added layer of comfort in knowing that it won’t fail.

　　S90V is super-premium stainless steel that defies all odds in terms of corrosion and abrasion resistance, but it also holds an excellent edge. In fact, the only downside to S90V is that it’s a real pain to sharpen. Thankfully, you probably won’t have to sharpen it for years. But, if you do, Benchmade offers their Lifesharp Guarantee for the life of the knife.

　　Outside of the materials and build, the Freek excels in size and shape. At almost 8½”, it’s right in the sweet spot for length. With almost 31⁄2 of that being the blade, you’ll find that the Benchmade Freek is incredibly balanced. The contoured handle, with its chamfered edges, fits every hand size and type, and the “RST” style blade ramp on the spine of the blade lets you bear down and get the big tasks done with ease.

　　Read our full review here.

　　Check Price at BladeHQCheck Price at Amazon Best Budget Pocket Knife Civivi Conspirator Specs OAL 8.11” Blade Length 3.48” Blade Steel Nitro-V Blade Shape Drop Point Lock Type Button (Crossbar) Weight 3.8 oz.

　　Pros Nitrov-V Blade Steel Button Lock Ceramic Ball Bearings Cons Pocket clip could be more substantial Nick LeFort A good budget pocket knife will cost you less than $100 and get the job done. But a great budget pocket knife will cost around the same, feature premium materials, and get the job done well. That’s the story with the CIVIVI Conspirator ($94) whose Nitro-V blade steel, Micarta handle scales, and button lock belong on a knife twice the price. But that’s been the story all along with CIVIVI and its sister company, WE Knife Co. Both have been making a lot of other production knife manufacturers second guess their retail pricing.

　　Did we mention the ball bearings that aid in the opening and overall operation of the Conspirator? Combined with the crossbar-style button lock and the flipper deployment, you would be hard-pressed to find another knife out there that functions as smoothly and reliably. Ball bearings used to only come on the most premium of production knives. Now they’re available on almost every CIVIVI folding knife in production.

　　Regarding the Nitro-V blade steel, it’s a real head-scratcher that more brands aren’t using it on their knives. Nitro-V is the brainchild of New Jersey Steel Baron, a company that provides steel to knife manufacturers of all sizes, all over the world. They set out to make a blade steel that was nearly impervious to corrosion that was tough and held a terrific edge. Nitro-V was the answer.

　　The Conspirator is the kind of knife that you don’t mind using and abusing because it didn’t break your bank. But what’s more, is that it can take it. This knife was made to be dragged around and used in all environments for your lifetime.

　　Read our full review here.

　　Check Price at BladeHQCheck Price at Amazon Best Multitool/Knife Combo Victorinox Huntsman Specs OAL 6 Blade Length 2.5 Blade Steel Stainless Blade Shape Drop Point Lock Type None Weight 3.4 oz.

　　Pros Proven Victorinox build and materials Excellent tool variety Affordability Cons Tools do not lock Nick LeFort Almost everyone we know got into knives because they were given a “Swiss Army Knife (SAK)” when they were a kid, if not at some other impactful time in their lives. That said, this list wouldn’t be complete without having something from Victorinox on it. Last year we had Victorinox’s Hiker ($36) in this slot. But, after a year of testing and toiling, we feel that the best tool for this category is the Huntsman ($50).

　　For roughly the same amount of pocket real estate as the Hiker, you get the added benefit of scissors and a multipurpose hook. Yes, you do lose a dedicated Phillips screwdriver, but we’ve found that the small screwdriver on top of the can opener gets the job done.

　　With a total of 15 on-board tools, the Huntsman is well-rounded, without any bloat. Even though we would love to, one day, see the tools lock on a SAK, it’s something you learn to work around and keep yourself aware of. That said, even when using some of the more demanding tools like the saw and awl, there was never an instance where they closed in on our hands.

　　Aside from the tools and blades being made from stainless Swedish steel, the shining star of the Huntsman is the multipurpose hook. At 3mm, it allows you to do such things as remove a hot pot from a fire, and pull tent stakes out of the ground. The scissors also came in handy for cutting fishing lines and excess cordage leftover from making knots and loops. For those of you who love a nice glass of Pinot Grigio at camp, you’re going to love the corkscrew.

　　For those of you looking for something fancy out of your SAK, Victorinox offers the Huntsman Wood ($64) which features Walnut wood scales.

　　$52 at REI Best Hiking / Outdoors Knife WE Knife Big Banter Specs OAL 8.35” Blade Length 3.69” Blade Steel CPM 20CV Blade Shape Drop Point Lock Type Liner Weight 4.1 oz.

　　Pros Perfectly Balanced Canvas Micarta Scales Size to Weight Ratio Cons Needs more spine jimping Nick LeFort Part of a trio, the WE Knife Big Banter ($132) is the big brother of the Banter and Baby Banter. All three of these knives have found their place in the annals of knife history in a very short period of time. This is due in part to all three of them being made from exceptional materials, excelling in performance, and being priced just right for the everyday user.

　　We chose the Big Banter as this year’s best hiking/outdoor pocket knife because it’s a full-sized knife consisting of a drop point 20CV blade and Micarta handle scales. It also features a steel frame for extra dexterity as well as ball bearings in the pivot for an incredibly awesome deployment experience.

　　Additionally, and this is something we’ve seen on a lot of WE Knife knives, the attention to detail on the Big Banter kicks the functionality up a notch. Take for example the jimping in the choil. Having this extra touch point in this specific area provides you with a better grip. It also helps out when you’re working on tougher tasks.

　　Another detail is the fact that one handle scale has a slightly larger relief to better access the liner lock. It would be one thing if this were a large relief, but we’re talking about less than an eighth of an inch that improves the user experience and ease of use.

　　Overall, the Big Banter is a larger folding knife that works in all hand sizes due to its large, indexable choil. It has a great size-to-weight ratio and its stonewashed 20CV steel is considered “super steel” as it excels in both corrosion and abrasion resistance. What this all boils down to is a knife that you can use, abuse, and rely on — then give it to your children and tell them to do the same.

　　Read our full review here.

　　$150 at AmazonCheck Price at Knife Center Best Tactical Knife Benchmade CLA Specs OAL 7.85” Blade Length 3.40” Blade Steel MagnaCut Blade Shape Drop Point Lock Type Button (Crossbar) Weight 3.47 oz.

　　Pros DLC Battlewash coated MagnaCut Blade Size to Weight Ratio OD Green + Coyote Tan = Awesome Color Combo Cons No indicator on the blade lock It’s pricey Nick LeFort To be considered tactical, you need to have some features that aren’t necessarily found in other EDC pocket knives. In the case of the Benchmade CLA ($400), that feature is lightning-fast automatic deployment at the push of a button. That’s right, the CLA is an automatic knife which makes this a restricted item in some states. But that doesn’t mean we can’t give it credit where credit is due. After all, in testing, all the CLA did was impress us.

　　Considered a bridge between EDC knives and tactical knives, the CLA is composed of sculpted and contoured OD Green handle scales and DLC-coated “Battlewashed” Magnacut drop point blade. This color combination alone is stellar, but the materials used here make the CLA nearly indestructible. That’s not an exaggeration.

　　When the first version of the CLA launched almost nine years ago, it was the first automatic knife from Benchmade that featured composite handle scales. The “Composite Lite Auto” became a very successful attempt to create an automatic knife for the people. It was less bulky than all of the other autos Benchmade had put out previously, and it was lighter in weight. This made the CLA a perfect fit for people looking for a reliable EDC knife.

　　This model of CLA is an upgrade from the previous model which featured 154CM steel. The upgrade to MagnaCut became something of a theme for production knifemakers in 2024. For good reason too — MagnaCut steel is probably the best EDC steel out there. This is due to its balance resistance qualities, edge retention, and ease of re-sharpening.

　　Read our full review here.

　　Check Price at BladeHQ Best Dress Knife CRKT CEO Microflipper Specs OAL 5.50” Blade Length 2.21” Blade Steel Sandvik 12C27 Blade Shape Sheepsfoot Lock Type Liner Weight 1.7 oz.

　　Pros Sandvik 12C27 Steel IKBS Ball Bearings for fluid deployment Cons Aluminum scales can be slippery when wet. Nick LeFort Not everyone who carries a knife is running around the woods in Carhartt’s all of the time. Some of us work office jobs where we need to dress “office casual” which usually means khaki pants or a dress. But that doesn’t mean we’re getting shut out of the knife world because we’ve got to get a little buttoned-up. It just means we need to find something a little fancier.

　　Widely known as a “Gentleman’s Knife”, we decided to use the term “Dress Knife” because we know that it’s not just dudes using knives. So, why not be proper about it? Anyway, for 2024, we’ve picked the CRKT CEO Microflipper ($60) because it’s both practical for the office and durable for anything.

　　Composed of Aluminum handle scales and Sandvik 12C27 blade steel, the CEO Microflipper is a smaller-scale knife with a Sheepsfoot blade. It also has an IKBS ball-bearing pivot that pairs insanely well with the flipper mechanism for fast and determined deployment.

　　Where the 5 ½” overall length may seem small for the outdoor world, we assure you — size DOES NOT matter when it comes to the CEO Microflipper. The Sandvik 12C27 blade is highly corrosion-resistant and tough. It’s also easy to sharpen. The .09” thick Sheepsfoot profile is great for slicing, chopping, and even precision work. Meaning, that you could be using the knife like a razor at work and for food prep out in the woods.

　　We love the CRKT Microflipper because it’s small, mighty, and unassuming. Read our full review here.

　　Check Price at BladeHQCheck Price at Amazon Best of the Rest Arcform Slimfoot Specs OAL 7.875” Blade Length 3.5” Blade Steel Böhler M390 Blade Shape Sheepsfoot Lock Type Liner Weight 4.63 oz.

　　Pros Böhler M390 steel Sheepsfoot blade profile with fuller The refined design Cons The flipper tab is a little far forward and can be tricky Nick LeFort Some knives are just so well designed and built that they’re just as fun to look at as they are to use. Case and point, the Arcform Slimfoot ($279). Composed of peel-pry G10 and Böhler M390 steel, and featuring some of the cleanest lines on any of the knives we had the pleasure of playing with, the Arcform is a study of what you can do with 3D design. There’s just no way this knife is as awesome as it is without the help of some very expensive drafting apps.

　　Additionally, the Slimfoot uses its G10 scales as its structure. While this isn’t unheard of, most manufacturers will mill out spaces in their G10 handles for a subframe. By design, G10 is plenty strong without the need for reinforcements. That said, here on the Slimfoot, the simplicity garners some serious respect. As does the design of the Böhler M390 Sheepsfoot blade, which has a fully fuller groove that can be used for a secondary method of opening and even for easy insertion in materials like meat.

　　The fuller eliminates suction and has been used for centuries in swords and military bayonets for just that reason.

　　Overall, the Arcform Slimfoot, with its smooth flipping action and stunning looks, makes us miss Böhler M390 steel. A few years back, it seemed like it was going to be the next top steel. In fact, we like it better than MagnaCut. The two have similar corrosion and abrasion resistance properties, but the M390 holds a much better edge than MagnaCut.

　　Don’t be mad, bro. Those are the facts. Read our full review here.

　　Check Price at BladeHQCheck Price at KnifeCenter Kershaw Iridium Specs OAL 7.9” Blade Length 3.4” Blade Steel D2 Blade Shape Spear Point Lock Type DuraLock Weight 3.3 oz.

　　Pros Old-school D2 steel KVT Ball Bearing System Balance between form and function Cons It’s a very sharp fidget spinner. Ouch. Nick LeFort Though we deemed it a little too heavy for our Best Knives for Backpacking and Hiking list, at 3.3 ounces the Kershaw Iridium ($100) is far from being too heavy to be one of our favorite EDC pocket knives for 2024. When you consider its size and construction, we think the Iridium could be used to put on a little more weight. Alright, we’re kidding. If anything, the size-to-weight ratio is just about perfect.

　　D2 tool steel and Aluminum handle scales help keep the price of the Iridium down, but that doesn’t mean this overly sharp fidget spinner isn’t full-featured. The Iridium features Kershaw’s take on 2024’s hottest lock mechanism; the crossbar lock. It also uses Kershaw’s KVT Ball Bearing system in the knife’s pivot for butter smoother opening and closing.

　　Aside from that, and aside from being one of our favorite flipper knives as well, the Iridium has some advanced design features that aid in its performance and carry. In terms of performance, the large, choil-style, cutout below the DuraLock lock mechanism significantly increases your grip on the knife. With grip always being a concern with Aluminum scales, especially when your hands are wet, this is reassuring.

　　In terms of carry, the Iridium features a deep carry pocket clip — so only you need to know you’re carrying it. But it also has an anodized orange lanyard toggle if you want to add some accessory cord for easy retrieval from your pocket, pack, and beyond.

　　The Kershaw Iridium could be considered the blueprint for the design of future production knives. At $100 you’re getting way more than you may know until you get it in your paw.

　　Read our full review here.

　　Check Price at BladeHQCheck Price at Amazon Benchmade Auto Immunity Specs OAL 5.95” Blade Length 2.49” Blade Steel Cerakoted CPM M4 Blade Shape Wharncliffe Lock Type Auto Axis Weight 3.3 oz.

　　Pros Cerakoted M4 Blade Steel Small, but capable. Auto Axis Lock w. Built-In Safety Cons Expensive for its size Nick LeFort We’re really saving the best of the best for last by holding off on sharing the Benchmade Auto Immunity ($325) until the very end. But believe us when we tell you that you’re happy you stuck around for this long. This knife was designed to meet or beat antiquated knife laws stating that knife blades on automatics need to be under 2.5” to legally be carried. It’s also made from one of the best knife steels around. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in capability.

　　The steel we’re talking about here is one of the few ultra-premium, super steels; M4. On its own, M4 has very good corrosion and abrasion resistance. With the added Cerakoting found here on the Auto Immunity, it might be the best knife steel on the planet. It also holds a serious edge for a prolonged period of time. This is good, because, like S90V, it’s a beast to sharpen. Don’t worry, when the time comes, you can take advantage of Benchmade’s Lifesharp Guarantee where they’ll resharpen it for you, for free.

　　In terms of overall size, some people might find the Auto Immunity a little small for more demanding tasks like kindling prep. However, due to its Wharncliffe-style blade, it’ll excel in precision tasks like carving, coring, and food prep. In fact, after a couple of months of carry and use, our tester, Sean McCoy didn’t even notice that it was an undersized knife. He referred to it simply as a “workhorse”.

　　The only thing keeping the Benchmade Auto Immunity from the tippy top of this list is the fact that it’s going to run you $325 bones. But we couldn’t leave it off the list for proud pricing.

　　Read our full review here.

　　Check Price at BladeHQ WESN Allman Specs OAL 6.65” Blade Length 2.8” Blade Steel S35VN Blade Shape Modified drop point Lock Type Frame lock Weight 3.65 oz.

　　Pros Bro, check out that fat-bellied blade S35VN steel Titanium + frame lock collab Cons The pocket clip Nick LeFort The WESN Allman ($155) is a unique and practical offering with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. This fat-bellied knife is a favorite for all sorts of tasks around the house or in camp. From scoring leather to sharpening pencils to spreading jam on crackers, the Allman deserves a place in your pocket.

　　First things first, the Allman uses S35VN blade steel with a titanium body and is ready for years of use and abuse. S35VN Steel is both corrosion-resistant and easy to sharpen. It folds open with a satisfying ease and locks closed with a solid frame lock mechanism. The wide blade and sufficiently wide handle make this knife feel exceptionally balanced in the hand. Aside from occasionally lubricating the pivot point, this knife will keep on keeping on, maintenance-free.

　　The short, stubby blade design lends itself not only to slicing and shaving but also to scooping and digging, making the Allman a versatile tool. The blade shape is a modified drop point, with a false edge that levels up the Allman”s plunging and piercing capabilities. Our tester keeps one in his pocket for all kinds of small tasks around his home.

　　Our only real gripe with this knife is the clip, as its far enough away from the butt of the handle that there’s more knife showing above the pocket line than we’d prefer. If you prefer the security of a clip or like to carry your knife in your back pocket, this might bug you, but it is easy enough to just store it down in your pocket at a compact 3.8”.

　　The Allman is a solid choice for the guy or gal who wants to be quick on the draw with a versatile pocket knife in the workshop, garden, or out in the woods. If you’re still not convinced that this stubby blade is for you, check out Nick LeFort’s full review of the WESN Allman.

　　Check Price At Blade HQCheck Price at WESN Pocket Knives Comparison Chart

　　How a knife carries is an important factor in picking the right one for you; (photo/Nick LeFort) Out of all of the things we test around Gear Junkie, pocket knives seem to get easier and easier every year — because everyone wants one. Suffice it to say, the knives we’ve recommended on this list weren’t just tested at a desk or in some random workshop in the Midwest, they were used, abused, loved, and carried for extended periods of time.

　　From an industry veteran like Sean McCoy to a knifemaker like Nick LeFort, and knife aficionado Josh Wussow, all of the knives you read about here within were toiled over and picked apart. All three of these testers are great people. Fun to have around. Heck, last year’s Christmas Party was kept off of our social media pages, by the request of HR, because of these three guys in particular. But when it comes to breaking down a knife’s features, materials, and intended uses, there aren’t three better people suited for the job.

　　So what did they do? Where you can find YouTube and the internet peppered with people cutting rope and cardboard in their garage, you’re more apt to find Sean, Nick, or Josh out in the woods, down by a river, or wherever their day takes them. Heck, you may see one of them wandering around Whole Foods with one of these knives (in their pocket of course). To them, testing isn’t a 9-5 job, these knives are part of their lives. And they brought their experience and their attention to detail along with these knives in their day-to-day lives.

　　Having a keen sense of how a particular knife steel would perform, or how a certain handle material’s grip would be impacted by inclement weather, as well as a vast knowledge of what’s going on in the market, they were able to act and react accordingly. On these few aspects as well as many others. The end result is the purest form of product testing: in the moment.

　　The bottom line is that our approach to testing is to make sure a product and its parts perform as expected. With marketing being what it is, with the intent to sell one particular knife above all of the others, it’s easy to buy into the hype. In this case, we look at that hype and see if it’s all just talk or the real deal.

　　Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Pocket Knife

　　Benchmade’s Axis lock is a crossbar-style lock that is extremely reliable; (photo/Nick LeFort) Knife Steel The amount of knife blade steel and handle materials out there is pretty impressive. But, where the handle materials seem to have stabilized, there’s new steel coming out every year. As you can see from the above selection of eight knives, there are seven different knife steels. Our recommendation is to consider each steel on a case-by-case basis. But they should still meet or exceed the following requirements:

　　Corrosion Resistance The last thing you want is your knife turning orange on you out in the field. Especially if you’re planning on using it to prepare food. All of the steel mentioned in this guide either has exceptional corrosion resistance or has been coated to eliminate the occurrence of rust.

　　Abrasion Resistance Some people consider this property to be more form than function. But in all reality, if your blade can easily get scraped up that can lead to chipping, which then could lead to blade failure.

　　Edge Retention/Ease of Resharpening No matter what knife you carry, the worst knife you could carry is a dull one. That being said, you want to look for knife steels that either excel in edge retention or can be easily resharpened.

　　You can learn more about specific knife steels here.

　　Handle Material When it comes down to handle material its all about grip. Ergonomics play a part in this as well, as you could have great handle material in a weird shape that will cause fatigue. In the end, you won’t want to use the knife and you’ll have wasted your money. These are some of the more preferred materials on the market today:

　　G10 Micarta G10 and Micarta are both extremely strong materials. Both excel in grip whether yourhands are wet or dry which is why those two materials are so popular with EDC,Survival, Tactical, and Bushcraft-style knives.

　　Nylon Plastic Nylon and Plastic also make for great handle materials because they’re durable andlightweight, but they’re also generally textured. It’s this texturing and styling thatincreases the grip on a knife with these materials.

　　Note: Nylon and Plastic handle scales can be called a litany of names. Some of themore popular names are: FRN/Zytel (Fiber Reinforced Nylon), GRN (Glass ReinforcedNylon), GFN (Glass Filled Nylon), and Grivory (Injection Molded).

　　Carbon Fiber A lot of folks think Carbon Fiber is just pretty to look at, but in all reality, this wovenmaterial is lightweight and strong. Depending on its composition, it could beconsidered the perfect balance between strength, weight, and durability. You can betyour bippy you’ll pay more for a knife with Carbon Fiber, but it’s worth it.

　　Aluminum Titanium Both Aluminum and Titanium are incredibly strong and lightweight materials whichmake them great for knife handle scales. But where Aluminum has become relegated tobudget knives, the use of Titanium is usually saved for premium and ultra-premiumknives. The only drawback to both of these materials is that they can be slippery whenwet.

　　The Benchmade Freek with a carbon fiber handle, out here living its best life; (photo/Nick LeFort) Ease of Use Ease of use is a big deal when considering what knife is right for you. It can come in many forms from ergonomics, to lock design, to the hardware used to keep the knife together and in good functioning order. All in all, the last thing you want to do is struggle with or be uncomfortable using your knife.

　　Ergonomics A good knife will feel right in your hand. From the shape of the handle scales to theoverall thickness, and even texturing, ergonomics can be the difference between youbeing confident with your knife or leaving it in your drawer at home. When you considera knife, put it in your hand and give it a good squeeze. Then, push down hard on a hardsurface. If everything feels right, that’s your next knife.

　　Lock Mechanism Without fail, you will find yourself in a position where you need to rely on the lock on yourknife more than you expected.

　　Some of the more common lock types are liner/frame locks that use a bar that indexes into the back of the blade. There are also button-style locks that use a steel barrel to keep the blade engaged. However, the most popular lock type is the crossbar lock which also uses a steel bar to hold the knife in place.

　　In my time and experience, I have never seen a crossbar-style lock mechanism fail without some outside force creating a major disruption in how the knife functions. Like a truck running it over.

　　Pocket Clip The right pocket clip will keep your knife in place in your pocket and will be easy to insertand remove. Generally, pocket clips are made from steel or Titanium, are designedto retain their shape, and are around half the length of the knife when they are closed.

　　However, there are wire pocket clips that can deform over time. There are also shorterpocket clips that, depending on the size of the knife, can cause it to float around in yourpocket, or even come out of your pocket.

　　I would pick a wire pocket clip over a shorter clip any day.

　　Ball Bearings Ten years ago, you needed to pay $300 to get a knife with ball bearings in it, but nowyou can find them for under $100.

　　Ball bearings assist in the opening and closing of a knife. In fact, there are some knivesout there that are so fluid in operation, due to ball bearings, that they’re just as fast, if notfaster than an automatic knife. They’re also legal in more places when compared to anauto.

　　Some of our favorite pocket knives laid out for testing; (photo/Nick LeFort) FAQ Why should I carry a pocket knife? From opening packages to slicing up food, pocket knives offer a wealth of utility. Rather than using your fingernails, a car key, or half of a pair of scissors, pocket knives are a natural piece for people with a lot of tasks on their hands. This is especially true for outdoor enthusiasts, who deal with materials like rope, wood, and canvas all the time.

　　One reason you won’t see on this list is self-defense.Despite what some industry marketing material would lead you to believe, carrying a pocket knife doesn’t turn you into a commando or modern-day gladiator. Unless you’re a trained weapons expert, you’re just as likely to injure yourself as any would-be attacker. If you feel the need to carry something for protection, you’re far better off with a can of pepper spray. Pocket knives are best treated as tools — not weapons.

　　What’s the best size for a pocket knife?

　　Although there’s no right answer that fits everyone and their needs, a folding knife with an overall length of 8-8.5” with a blade length between 3-3.5” is ideal. At these lengths, you can expect the knife to be balanced, able to complete most daily tasks and be carried comfortably.

　　That said, we always recommend you test fit the knife to make sure it fits your hand and you feel safe and confident using it. Beyond that, keep in mind that each state, and even cities, have specific laws and regulations regarding knives. Make sure to read up on your local laws before making a purchase.

　　Should I get a plain edge or serrated edge knife?

　　Plain edge blades are generally one continuous edge and they can be great for cutting, chopping, shaving, and slicing.

　　Generally, a serrated blade is a combination of a plain edge and serrations, usually towards the back of the blade near the pivot. The benefit of serrations on a blade is that it can be used for sawing through limbs and rope.

　　Overall, when choosing between a blade with a plain edge and one with serrations you need to take into consideration if you really need it. Serrations take up space on a blade edge and are more complicated to sharpen.

　　How do I maintain my knife?

　　Your knife is only going to benefit you if it’s in good working order. With a fixed-blade knife, maintenance is generally focused on keeping the blade edge sharp and free of knicks or chips as this can lead to failure. With a folding knife, it can get a little more complicated as there are moving parts that need to be maintained to make sure the knife is safe to use for years to come.

　　Here are some basic tips that you should get into a routine of doing to make sure your knife is reliable and ready for your next adventure.

　　Make sure it’s sharp!

　　A dull knife isn’t any good to you. In fact, a dull knife can be dangerous. Thankfully, most knives on the market have steels that you can easily sharpen with the right sharpener and a little practice. That said, if you ever have any questions about the blade steel on your knife and how to sharpen it, we recommend contacting the manufacturer.

　　Pro Tip: Some knife manufacturers, like Benchmade, offer free knife sharpening for life.

　　Keep it clean and lubricated!

　　Water, dirt, and debris can all lead to your knife failing on you. Make sure to wipe your blade down and that the handle cavity is dry and free of debris.

　　It’s perfectly fine to wash down your blade with dish soap and water, making sure to wipe it down and let it air dry. We also recommend coating your blade with any type of food-grade lubricant.

　　Additionally, you want to make sure that the lock mechanism and pivot are free of debris and in working order as well. These can be cleaned with a Q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol, or canned air. You should always re-lubricate these areas after cleaning your knife.

　　If the knife manufacturer recommends a specific lubricant, it’s always best to use that.

　　Are automatic knives good for everyday carry?

　　There was a time when we would have told you no, but as more and more automatic knives arrive in the market, they can be.

　　Though they tend to be more expensive and can be a hassle to maintain, the stigma surrounding automatic knives is legality. Generally speaking, automatic knives are relegated to military and law enforcement personnel. Depending on where you live and where you plan on carrying an automatic knife, as a civilian you could be breaking the law.

　　That said, we recommend you check your local laws and regulations before carrying an automatic knife.

　　The Best Hunting Knives of 2023 A hunting knife has a single purpose: processing meat after a kill. We did the research to help you find the best hunting knife for your needs and budget.

　　The Best Tactical Knives of 2024 Known by many names, a tactical knife generally refers to a hardworking, do-all blade. Here, we review the best folding and fixed-blade knives for every budget and use.