What is the best pocket knife?

Outdoors

Paul S. Logan

What is the best pocket knife?

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?

Top Community Picks

#1 KUBEY

Discussion highlights:

  • Sturdy, versatile everyday carry knife
  • Extremely high quality for the price
  • Strong D2 stainless steel stays sharp
  • Flips open and closed very smoothly
  • Contoured handle prevents slipping
  • Liner lock safely secures blade
  • Excellent for indoor and outdoor use
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#1 KUBEY

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Discussion highlights:

  • Sturdy, versatile everyday carry knife
  • Extremely high quality for the price
  • Strong D2 stainless steel stays sharp
  • Flips open and closed very smoothly
  • Contoured handle prevents slipping
  • Liner lock safely secures blade
  • Excellent for indoor and outdoor use
Check price on Amazon

Top comments:

Mike Cahill

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.

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Jana M. Cook

@Mike Cahill, do you have to sharpen the blade on a regular basis?

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Scotty Burleson

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.

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Julian Hardy

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!

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Herbert Ramos

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.

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Alesia Burns

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.

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Top comments:

Lionel Mooney

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.

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Annabeth R.

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

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Irvin Holland

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!

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Top comments:

Gregg Barnes

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

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Christian Powell

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

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Levi Newman

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

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#4 Slice

Discussion highlights:

  • Ceramic blade is harder than metal
  • Rounded, finger-friendly tip
  • Requires two hands to open and close
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#4 Slice

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Discussion highlights:

  • Ceramic blade is harder than metal
  • Rounded, finger-friendly tip
  • Requires two hands to open and close
Check price on Amazon

Top comments:

Madelyn Stovall

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

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Kaede Kimura

I replaced the provided blade with one that has a pointed tip, otherwise it was almost impossible to cut through cardboard and plastic!

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Kenda Delvalle

@Madelyn Stovall, what is the Slice blade made from? I’ve read that it’s “metal free” ...

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#5 Gerber EAB

Discussion highlights:

  • Lightweight stainless steel utility knife
  • Needs extra thick replacement blades
  • Screwdriver required to remove blade
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#5 Gerber EAB

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Discussion highlights:

  • Lightweight stainless steel utility knife
  • Needs extra thick replacement blades
  • Screwdriver required to remove blade
Check price on Amazon

Top comments:

Loren Grayson

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

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Damir S.

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

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Lynne Wilson

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.

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#6 Boker

Discussion highlights:

  • Beautiful bone handle
  • Blades stay sharp with regular honing
  • Leather sheaf never arrived
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#6 Boker

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Discussion highlights:

  • Beautiful bone handle
  • Blades stay sharp with regular honing
  • Leather sheaf never arrived
Check price on Amazon

Top comments:

Dylan Hawk

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

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Carmen G.

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

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