pocket knife travel size

TSA Approved Pocket Knives – Ultimate Buyers Guide

You’ve planned your trip, packed your bags, and you’re ready to go. But wait, what about your trusted pocket knife, you know, the one you never part with? Is it TSA approved?

I know TSA rules are confusing, and there are so many of them to weed through. Not to worry, I am here to help.

Over the years of travel and dealing with TSA, I gained a tremendous degree of knowledge about TSA, sharp objects, and, yes, pocket knives. If you want to take your pocket knife with you when you fly, this information is invaluable.

Together, let’s unpack the TSA’s rules on pocket knives, explore what makes a pocket knife TSA approved, and look at some of the best TSA approved pocket knives available.

Quick Overview Of TSA Approved Pocket Knives (Updated List)

Is the term “tsa approved pocket knives” an oxymoron.

Before we move forward with our TSA approved pocket knives buyer’s guide, it’s necessary to explain what “TSA approved” means . The term might seem like an oxymoron, given that the TSA generally prohibits knives in carry-on luggage. However, “TSA approved” in this context refers to pocket knives that meet specific criteria set by the TSA for checked luggage .

It’s important to note that even if a pocket knife is deemed “TSA approved,” it still needs to be packed in your checked luggage. Carrying a pocket knife in your carry-on bag can lead TSA taking it at the security checkpoint and may even result in fines or other penalties.

So, when we talk about “TSA approved pocket knives,” we’re referring to knives that won’t violate TSA rules or regulations. Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s dive into our buyer’s guide for the best TSA approved pocket knives on the market.

Top 5 TSA Approved Pocket Knives Product Reviews

Now that we understand what makes a pocket knife TSA approved, let’s look at some of the best options available. Each of these knives meets the TSA’s guidelines and offers unique features that make them a great choice for travelers.

Case Cutlery Yellow Handle Peanut

The Case Cutlery Yellow Handle Peanut is a classic and reliable tool that combines functionality with a touch of vintage charm. Its compact size makes it a great travel companion, especially for those who appreciate traditional craftsmanship.

Product Overview

The Case Cutlery Yellow Handle Peanut features a high-quality stainless steel blade that’s designed for durability and precision. The handle, with its distinctive yellow color, is made from a durable synthetic material that provides a comfortable grip.

One of the standout features of this knife is its traditional peanut design, which includes two blades of different sizes. This offers versatility for various tasks, from opening packages to peeling fruit.

• Compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry
• High-quality stainless steel blades
• Comfortable and distinctive yellow handle
• Traditional peanut design with two blades for versatility
• Made by Case Cutlery, a well-known brand with a long history in the knife industry
• The traditional design may not appeal to everyone
• The small size, while great for travel, might limit its functionality for larger tasks.

Why It’s TSA Approved

The Case Cutlery Yellow Handle Peanut meets the TSA guidelines for knives in checked luggage due to its small blade size. Remember, even though it’s TSA compliant, it still needs to be packed in your checked luggage.

In conclusion, the Case Cutlery Yellow Handle Peanut is an excellent choice for those who appreciate traditional design and craftsmanship. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just need a handy tool for everyday tasks, this knife is a solid choice.

Spyderco Grasshopper Black Non-Locking Knife With 2.30″

The Spyderco Grasshopper Black Non-Locking Knife is a compact and reliable tool that’s perfect for everyday carry. Its 2.30″ blade is small enough to be TSA compliant, yet it can handle the tasks at hand.

This knife features a sleek, black design that you can easily have engraved. The stainless steel 3Cr13 blade resists rust and corrosion, ensuring longevity. The handle is made from durable materials that provide a comfortable grip, making it easy to use even for extended periods.

One of the standout features of this knife is its non-locking mechanism. This means the blade doesn’t lock when it’s open, which is a requirement for TSA approved pocket knives.

• Lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry
• Durable stainless steel blade
• Comfortable grip
• Non-locking mechanism for added safety and compliance
• Made by Spyderco, a reputable brand known for quality knives
• The non-locking mechanism may not be suitable for all tasks
• The small size, while great for travel, might limit its functionality for larger tasks

The Spyderco Grasshopper Black Non-Locking Knife meets the TSA guidelines for knives in checked luggage due to its small blade size and non-locking mechanism. Remember, even though it’s one of the TSA approved pocket knives, it still needs to be packed in your checked luggage.

Overall, the Spyderco Grasshopper is a great choice for those in need of a compact, reliable, and TSA compliant knife. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just need a handy tool for everyday tasks, this knife is a solid choice.

Kizer Mini Bay Pocket Knife, 1.9 Inch, Non-Locking

The Kizer Mini Bay Pocket Knife is a compact and versatile tool that’s perfect for those who need a reliable knife on the go. With a blade length of just 1.9 inches, it’s small enough to be TSA compliant, yet robust enough to handle a variety of tasks.

The Kizer Mini Bay features a high-quality stainless steel blade that’s designed for durability and precision. The handle is made from lightweight materials that provide a comfortable grip, making it easy to handle even for extended periods.

One of the standout features of this knife is its non-locking mechanism. This means the blade doesn’t lock when it’s open, which is a requirement for many jurisdictions, including being TSA compliant for checked luggage.

• Traditional design
• High-quality stainless steel blade
• Made by Kizer, a well-known brand in the knife industry

The Kizer Mini Bay Pocket Knife is one of our top picks as TSA approved pocket knives as long as you place it in your checked luggage. It meets the TSA guidelines due to its small blade size and non-locking mechanism.

In conclusion, the Kizer Mini Bay is an excellent choice for those in need of a compact, reliable, and TSA compliant knife. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just need a handy tool for everyday tasks, this knife is a solid choice.

Spyderco Bug Non-Locking Knife With 1.27″

The Spyderco Bug Non-Locking Knife is a testament to the saying, “good things come in small packages.” With a blade length of just 1.27 inches, this compact knife is perfect for those who need a reliable tool that’s also travel-friendly.

The Spyderco Bug features a high-quality stainless steel blade for durability and precision. Despite its small size, this knife doesn’t compromise on functionality. The handle, while compact, provides a comfortable grip, making it easy to handle for various tasks.

• Extremely compact and lightweight, perfect for travel
• Comfortable grip despite its small size
• The extremely small size, while great for travel, might limit its functionality for larger tasks

The Spyderco Bug Non-Locking Knife meets the TSA guidelines for knives in checked luggage due to its small blade size and non-locking mechanism. Remember, even though it’s TSA compliant, it still needs to be packed in your checked luggage.

In conclusion, the Spyderco Bug is an excellent choice for those in need of a super compact, reliable, and TSA approved pocket knives. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just need a handy tool for everyday tasks, this knife is a solid choice.

Spyderco Roadie Non-Locking Lightweight Knife With 2.09″ Blade

The Spyderco Roadie Non-Locking Lightweight Knife is a compact yet versatile tool that’s perfect for those who value functionality and portability. With a blade length of 2.09 inches, it’s small enough to make the list of TSA approved pocket knives. Put it to the test to see well it handles many small tasks.

The Spyderco Roadie features a high-quality stainless steel blade that’s designed for durability and precision. The handle is made from lightweight materials that provide a comfortable grip, making it easy to handle even for extended periods.

• Made by Spyderco, a well-known brand in the knife industry

The Spyderco Roadie Non-Locking Lightweight Knife meets the TSA guidelines for knives in checked luggage due to its small blade size and non-locking mechanism. Remember, even though it’s TSA compliant, it still needs to be packed in your checked luggage.

In conclusion, the Spyderco Roadie is an excellent choice for those in need of a compact and reliable, knife that meets the requirements of TSA approved pocket knives. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just need a handy tool for everyday tasks, this knife is a solid choice.

What Makes a Pocket Knife TSA Approved?

TSA approved pocket knives are those that meet specific criteria set by the TSA. These criteria mainly revolve around the design and functionality of the knife.

Blade Length And Sharpness

The length of the blade is a critical factor for TSA approved pocket knives. TSA regulations stipulate that the blade of a pocket knife should not exceed 2.36 inches . The sharpness of the blade is also considered – certain types of blades may be deemed too dangerous for travel.

Knife Design

The design of the knife also plays a role. Some designs are considered safer and more suitable as TSA approved pocket knives than others. For instance, knives that feature a locking mechanism may not be allowed as they can be used more effectively as a weapon.

Other Factors

Other factors that can affect whether a pocket knife is TSA approved include the material the knife is made from and its overall purpose. For instance, utility knives may be allowed while combat knives are not.

How To Travel Safely With Your TSA Approved Pocket Knives

Even when you have experience with TSA approved pocket knives, it’s essential to follow certain guidelines to ensure a smooth travel experience.

Packing Your Knife Properly

Your pocket knife should be securely wrapped and placed in your checked luggage. This not only adheres to TSA guidelines but also ensures the safety of baggage handlers.

Checking In Your Knife

When checking in your luggage, it may be a good idea to declare that you have a pocket knife in your bag. This can prevent any potential issues or delays.

Handling TSA Inspections

If your bag is selected for inspection, cooperate fully with the TSA officers. Remember, they are just doing their job to ensure everyone’s safety.

Frequently Asked Questions – TSA Approved Pocket Knives

Navigating the world of TSA regulations can often lead to questions, especially when it comes to items like pocket knives. To help you better understand these rules and make your travel experience smoother, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about TSA approved pocket knives. Let’s dive in.

Are pocket knives TSA approved?

Technically speaking, no, they are not. The term TSA approved means an item can go in a carry on bag on a plane. Pocket knives can go in your checked luggage only, but no knives are allowed in the cabin of an airplane in any bag.

What size pocket knife will TSA allow?

TSA regulations say that a pocket knife with a blade 2.36 inches or less may be in your checked luggage only. No knives are permitted in a carry on bag. In addition, the knife cannot have a locking open mechanism.

What happens if TSA finds a pocket knife?

When it comes to knives in carry on luggage, TSA is not playing around. They strictly adhere to the rules regarding knives and will confiscate them when they show up on the security scanners.

Additional Resources

If you are looking for more tutorials, walkthroughs, and troubleshooting on TSA, here are some additional posts about TSA:

Top 34 TSA Approved Questions And Answers

Cutlery In Hand Luggage – Where And How To Pack It

3 1 1 Rule – Guidelines, Tips, And Tricks To Pass Security

Navigating the world of travel regulations can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to items like TSA approved pocket knives. However, with the right knowledge, it doesn’t have to be. The key is understanding what makes a pocket knife TSA approved and choosing a knife that meets these criteria.

Finding TSA approved pocket knives is a challenge in itself. Most pocket knives have blades greater than 2.36 inches and a locking handle. We’ve explored several options for you, such as the traditional peanut, Spyderco Grasshopper, the Kizer Mini Bay, the Spyderco Bug, and the Spyderco Roadie. Each of these knives offers unique features and benefits, making them excellent choices for travelers.

Remember, even though these are TSA approved pocket knives, they still need to be packed in your checked luggage. Always follow TSA guidelines and cooperate with TSA officers at the airport to ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.

Happy travels, my friends.

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Laura Fuller

Hello, I am a luggage and travel fanatic. With a vast knowledge of TSA regulations, I am here to assist you on your journey. Please join me, and together, we will navigate the world of travel. From TSA and air to cruising the high seas, we will explore the best accessories and tips for smooth travel.

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Home » Gear » The Best Pocket Knives and Travel Tools – EPIC Guide For 2024

The Best Pocket Knives and Travel Tools – EPIC Guide For 2024

It’s only a matter of time until a good pocket knife comes in handy. Whether you’re setting up camp or tearing it down, pocket knives will be right by your side every step of the process. Before you know it, your knife will be an everyday carry, and you’ll lose track of the benefits.

A pocket knife opens your campsite for renovations, whittles the branches for marshmallows, and preps the charcuterie board. Just don’t forget to clean your blade before the meal; rubbing it on my dirty shirt cleans it enough, right?

On some camping trips, my pocket knife helps me enjoy dinner on the beach, and on other trips, it does nothing more than open up a few beers. Whether you think you need it or not, adventurers would argue that heading into the woods without a quality pocket knife is asking for trouble.

It may be tempting to do without. I’m always looking for places to shed weight and deciding which one of my toys I’ll have to leave at home, but pocket knives accompany every trip. They weigh less than most single-use quick oats packets, so there is no reason to leave one off your packing list.

Unfortunately, It’s not easy to create a knife versatile enough for the trail that is also small enough to bring to the mountain top. Many lesser knife options have fit the bill only to snap under pressure.

Don’t trust dinner on shoddy craftsmanship. To make sure your knife is ready when it counts, you need to invest in the best. In this post, we’ll weed out the phonies and take a closer look at top pocket knives and other pocket tools that travellers will love.

Quick Answers

#1 – best overall pocket knife – benchmade bugout, #2 – best ultralight pocket knife – benchmade 533.

• #3 – Best Multi Tool – Leatherman Free P4
• #4 – Best Bargain Pocket Knife – Opinel Number 8  
• #5 – Best Multi Purpose Knife – Swiss Army Camper Knife

#6 – Best Small Knife – Gerber Swagger Drop Point Knife

• #7 – Best Multi Blade Knife – Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool
• #8 – Best Knife With Scissors – Swiss Army Huntsman Knife
• #9 – Best Cheap Pocket Knife – Petzl Sparta  

Benchmade Bugout

• > Fits into even the most lightweight situations
• > Comes with easy waist attachment

Benchmade 533

• > Smallest knife out there that can still get the job done
• > Stainless steel blade

Leatherman Free P4

• > 21 toolset
• > Totally customizable

Opinel Number 8

• > Hand Carved and affordable
• > Simple and effective locking mechanism

Swiss Army Camper Knife

• > 12 piece kit
• > The original camping tool

Gerber Swagger

• > Fastest draw in the west
• > Quality safety lock

Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool

• > 12 tools can all be accessed with one hand
• > Stainless steel used throughout

Swiss Army Huntsman Knife

• > Packs 8 tools into a classic knife handle
• > Quality blade and quality multitools

Petzl Spatha

• > Easily hooks onto a carabiner
• > Same steel used in ice skate blades

About Knives and Other Tools

 how to find a good pocket knife, what are the best pocket knives and travel tools, final thoughts on the best pocket knives.

Most pocket knives and multi-tools are considered weapons and are heavily regulated. Don’t try to take them as a carry-on. Any knife will cause questions at most police interactions and all border crossings, so make sure you understand the local national or even state knife laws before you head to the airport with a knife in your pocket. 

A good knife should be more than suitable for everyday carry, but that doesn’t mean you have to bring it everywhere. Any stadium or venue with a metal detector may not allow you to bring your knife inside. You could either miss the show or lose your tool. 

Most knife laws prevent concealed carry, and if you catch a cop on a bad day, that could mean your pocket. Most of the knives on our list won’t get you into too much trouble. Just use common sense, and don’t try to hide your knife if questioned.

A knife fits perfectly into every palm in America, but it won’t be the same knife in most hands. Knives and multi-tools are just that – multifunctional. There are loads of different values in a good knife, but there is not much space to play with if you want it to fit in your pocket. You’ll find many good pocket knives for accomplishing many different tasks, but you won’t find one knife that can do it all. A knife that makes great camping gear , may not be suitable for carrying in the streets of London for various reasons of legality!

Designers have given shoppers a world of options, all with the classic quality and stainless steel that makes up a good blade. You can find knives with all sorts of handles, blade shapes, extra features, and construction quirks that make them stand out. 

Here are a few factors that go into a good pocket knife. Decide where you fit into these categories to find the knife that best fits your hand. 

When it comes to knives and tools, cheap usually means crap. Budget products from the legendary Swiss Army and Opinel are the closest things to exceptions to this rule (both of these make great gifts for backpackers ). These options provide tremendous value for their price and are the real deal, but neither one can cut through thick objects. 

Crap is OK, if you don’t need a knife to do more than cut some cheese, but crap can get costly when you don’t have all day to saw through a coiled rope. Expect to pay anywhere from 20-140 dollars for your pocket knife and get what you pay for. 

Every knife on our list can be comfortably carried in your pocket. Some of these knives are so small you might forget they’re in there until you hear them bouncing through the washing machine, and others might feel bulky in tight jeans.

Be wary of incredibly small multi-tools. There is such a thing as too much of a good time when it comes to pocket knives. Fitting 30+ separate tools into your pocket is impressive until it’s time to actually use them, and all the tools are too small to function. 

That goes double for the blade. Trying to cut and cook dinner with a Swiss Army knife alone can be mildly infuriating, at the least. We all want to keep things as small as possible for a better fit, but don’t fall for knives that take it too far. 

Opening Style

Is it a flick? A fold? What you need it for will largely influence what style you need. 

Folding knives bring with them a carefully crafted locking mechanism that holds the blade in place and must be manually unfastened. Flick knives rely on gravity to open up with one hand once a safety switch is off. This style will deploy faster but can buckle under high pressure, as the blade has no backbone.

If you expect to push your knife to its strength limits, folding knives that use a pin or other lock to hold the blade will be stronger. Flick knives are best for those who want a more convenient opening and closing style. 

How It Feels

Your opening style and your blade’s weight will have a significant impact on how each blade feels in the palms of your hand. Check to make sure the contours of the handle fit with your hand to provide optimal grip. Remember, these are pocket knives, designed to be miniature. Small knives won’t feel the same as a kitchen cleaver.

Don’t expect your knife to cut through fruits and vegetables the same as your tools at home, but don’t lower your expectations too low. You don’t want your knife to feel like it’s going to break if you meet a hard force.

If it’s too small for you to hold correctly, you may struggle to cut through tough meats or rough edges. Any knife good enough for everyday carry will have to tackle rope, wood, cords, boxes, and foods. If your blade fits into the most petite pocket but struggles to get through a tomato, it’s worthless.  

The most dangerous knife is a dull one. Putting heaps of pressure on a lousy blade to get through tough objects is how accidents happen, so find a knife that feels effortless when cutting.  

Versatility

Are you after a knife or a multi-tool?

If versatility is your primary consideration, multi-tool is the only natural choice, but it’s not an easy decision. There is no multi-tool with a blade as good as a knife. 

 A good rule of thumb is that the more a multi-tool can do, the less effective the knife blade is. Multi-tools are trying to do a lot more with the same space as a pocket knife. To fit everything in there, the edges are usually weaker, shorter, and blunter than the blade of a single knife. 

Don’t expect your multi-tool’s blade to be as good as a folding knife, which means there is no point buying a multi-tool just for the sake of it. I have a Swiss Army knife and only ever use the blade and bottle opener! A good pocket knife can be much more versatile than you think. 

The best pocket knives and tools come in all shapes and sizes, from classic designs that haven’t changed in centuries, to the latest multi-tool technology. We’ve got great blades on display that each perform a different task better than the competition. The only thing these knives all have in common is their effectiveness. 

Any good pocket knife will last for decades, so choose wisely. Check out the best-in-class across several categories to find your perfect partner. 

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Our top pick for best overall pocket knife is Benchmade Bugout

• Material: Polymer + Steel
• Folded Size (In): 4.2
• Weight: 1.85 oz

Slip this sleek, fine-edge knife into your pocket alongside your phone, wallet, and keys, and then forget about it until it comes in handy. Our favourite overall pocket knife doesn’t waste an ounce, providing a powerful and versatile single blade while weighing less than a pack of gum. 

The knife is manually activated in seconds and is large enough to chow down on a block of cheese, small enough to finely skin veggies, and durable enough to get you through a few years on the road. 

This lightweight performance combines with a powerfully rigid blade that can handle most jobs with ease. Its all-around performance has earned the Bugout notoriety among the most passionate collectors and makes the blade frequently recommended for first-time pocket knife owners. 

Equipped with an Axis lock, you won’t waste time fidgeting with this blade to get it deployed and start slicing.

• Fits into even the most lightweight situations
• Comes with easy waist attachment
• Lifetime warranty
• No focus on looks, only practicality
• The blade is slightly smaller than average

Benchmade 533 is our top pick for best ultralight pocket knife

• Material: CF-Elite and Steel
• Folded Size (In): 4
• Weight: 1.5

Benchmade has set a high benchmark for travel tools. The company has offered up not one but two strong contenders for the best pocket knives of all kinds. If you felt like the Bugout was slightly too much knife for you, this miniature model is as lightweight as it gets. The pocketknife shaves off .3 ounces from the larger Bugout while condensing the blade down by an inch.

 It may seem like a slight difference, but ultralight hikers know every single decimal point counts when keeping track of weight over long treks. This ultralight option keeps weight down without sacrificing value, and that’s the tricky part!

There are plenty of mini blades out there that feel useless beyond spreading butter. The Bugout was already a small knife, so it’s easy to worry about the shortcomings of an even smaller shell. 

You can put those fears to rest with this little folding knife. Deploy your blade with the flick of a thumb and cut through twigs, sausages, or whatever else you feel like fiddling with at the campsite.  

• Smallest knife out there that can still get the job done
• Stainless steel blade
• There are not many situations where you need a knife this small
• Blade can struggle through thicker root vegetables

#3 – Best Multi-Tool – Leatherman Free P4

For best multi-tool, checkout Leatherman Free P4

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Folded Size (In): 4.25
• Weight: 8.6

Advertising yourself as the most advanced multi-purpose tool ever made is an incredibly bold statement,  but in this case, it just might be true. A multi tool is great for long term backpacking and also makes for essential roadtrip gear in our view.

I immediately noticed that every one of the tools included in this tiny multi-tool can be activated with one hand, from the bottle opener to the wire cutter. Keeping openings organized and easy is the most challenging part of making a good multi-tool. The P4 got creative to get it done. 

Free P4 got a few upgrades from earlier models to establish itself as the best knife of the multiverse by adding a saw and another serrated knife. The new blade didn’t get rid of anything that made the line an industry leader either. These multi-tools are handmade and designed in the United States and are fully protected for 25 years.    

It’s as close as you can get to having a toolbox with you at all times. Two types of pliers, two knives, four screwdrivers, and all the usual suspects add up to 21 tools. The set makes a great gift, and you can personalize your multi-tool with design engravings or custom lettering. 

• Design and made in the USA
• Totally customizable
• Expensive for a multitool
• Several tools have sacrificed performance to stay so lightweight

#4 – Best Bargain Pocket Knife – Opinel Number 8

Opinel Number 8 is one of the best bargain pocket knife

• Material: Wood + Carbone
• Folded Size (In): 4 3/8
• Weight: 1.6 oz

No one’s going to believe your knife cost you less than 20 bucks if you show up on a camping trip with the Opinel Number 8 in your pocket. The tool is incredibly cheap, and I can’t find any corners Opinel cut in production to offer such an affordable price. 

Each blade handle is handmade from sturdy French Beechwood. The hardy wood is featured on the grips of all sorts of French culinary tools, but none is more iconic than the beechwood grip of the Opinel. The blade has been slicing through Brie cheeses since 1890, and what you see today is the exact same design as the original. 

The blade’s beauty is its simplicity. No. 8 is one of the largest options in the series but still, only 5 components complete the ensemble; hand-carved grip, X90 Steel, a pin, a collar, and a locking ring.

You won’t find a more classic all-rounder, albeit with one glaring flaw. The knife’s lack of stainless steel means the blade isn’t up to the most demanding tasks, but most adventurers will find plenty of use at an incredibly low price. 

• Hand Carved and affordable
• Big blade has loads of versatility
• Simple and effective locking mechanism
• Takes two hands to open
• Not stainless steel

#5 – Best Multi-Purpose Knife – Swiss Army Camper Knife

Meet the best multi-purpose knife: Swiss Army Camper Knife

• Material: Stainless steel
• Folded Size (In): 3.5
• Weight: 3.2 oz

In case you forgot about one of the most famous knife makers on the planet, let me remind you: Swiss Army knives have been synonymous with boy scouts and camping trips since the days when there was no such thing as an un-broke backpacker. 

Why mess around with something as practical as a multi-tool? For a reasonable price, you can go with the most universally used knife on the planet. Their Camper Knife is the brand’s bread and butter. Beneath the classic Red Swiss exterior holds essential camping tools that can do everything from whittling down a walking stick to opening up a bottle of wine.  

An easy keychain attachment lets you clip on this lightweight attachment directly to your keys, so your pocket toolkit will never be too far away. Between the multiple knives and the sawblade and tweezers, you’ll quickly become basecamps designated problem solvers.

• This multitool has proven itself to last for decades
• 12 piece kit
• The original camping tool
• No scissors
• Difficult to clean

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Gerber Outrigger is our top pick for best small knife

• Price: 36.95
• Folded Size (In): 4.3
• Weight: 4.4 Ounches

Once the Gerber babies grow up, this company still has their back with a tactically assisted opening knife. This legendary knife manufacturer has been churning out useful miniature knives since before World War Two. This modern-day iteration has kept Gerber in the game for almost 100 years. 

The Swagger is a folding knife with a spring-loaded activation button that opens up boxes in a hurry. It may come from an older company, but this ain’t your grandpa’s mini knife. Gerber field-tested the brand new opening system in their quest to create the best mechanism for rapid knife deployment, and it’s hard to argue with the end results. 

Without a complete knife, that fast opening would be nothing more than a gimmick, but the Swagger delivers in every category. Your stainless steel blade will be out in a hurry, and the plastic coating grip feels good in your hands. 

• One of the smallest folding knives on the market
• Fastest draw in the west
• Quality safety lock
• Very small blade
• Two-handed opening

#7 – Best Multi-Blade Knife – Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool

Our top pick for best multi-blade knife is Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool

• Price: 59.95
• Folded Size (In): 3.6
• Weight: 4 oz

For adventurers who want the iconic Leatherman craftsmanship without the 21 toolsets of the bigger Multi-Tools, the company’s lighter Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool still brings plenty of value, especially considering it’s almost one hundred dollars cheaper than its high-class brother. 

This knife is slightly more white-collar, providing only 14 tools in one. Most trips shouldn’t require more than 14 tools anyways, and there is plenty to love about what the T4 has under its stainless steel. 

All of this is encased in packaging similar in size to a swiss army knife, with arguably more value, thanks to the additional scissors. Innovators and early adopters will be swearing by this blade’s fancy release system, which one day will look like a no-brainer.

• 14 tools can all be accessed easily
• Stainless steel used throughout
• Folds down pretty compact
• Not the best looking

#8 – Best Knife With Scissors –  Swiss Army Huntsman Knife

For best knife with scissors, checkout Swiss Army Huntsman Knife

• Folded Size (In): 4.5
• Weight: 5.5 oz

Out of a multi-tool, I really only use my scissors, knife, and bottle opener. This single blade knife checks off all three boxes while ensuring the blade stays big enough to be useful in many different situations. You’ll find 9 different hidden tools and one serrated blade that stretches out over 3 inches. Its the closest thing in the knife industry to the best of both worlds. 

All the separate tools included in this knife deploy from the sturdy body of the knife where you can get a good firm grip. There are loads of multi-tools much larger than this one that still don’t come with scissors or this level of quality.  If you are looking for one knife to solve all your problems, this baby is like counselling.

• Packs 9 tools into a classic knife handle
• The included Stainless steel is tough and can be sharpened
• Quality blade and quality multitools
• Heavy for a typical blade

#9 – Best Cheap Pocket Knife – Petzl Spatha

Petzl Spatha is one of the best cheap pocket knife

• Material: 12C27 Steel
• Weight: 1.5 oz

Knives don’t have to come with bells and whistles. You won’t find an included toothpick or a sprawling collection of knickknacks inside this knife, just one blade and a plastic handle perfect for ropes and riggings. Petzl builds its products for climbers, but this particular item works across the spectrum of outdoor activities. 

Petzl had to pay attention to every ounce to make a knife for climbers – a blade that wouldn’t let down anyone hanging on the edge of a cliff. That shows itself in the spec sheet, as the entire knife weighs less than 2 ounces but packs a blade that extends up to almost 3 inches. 

That combination of lightweight and efficiency are all some knife-owners need. If you don’t want a blade to do anything more than cut, you won’t find a lighter knife with this kind of performance. A nice sized hole at the front will allow you to easily fit the Spatha into a carabiner and keep it close until it’s time to cut rope, webbing, fishing line, or sailing equipment.

• Built for use in high-stakes situations
• Easily hooks onto a carabiner
• Same steel used in ice skate blades
• Least versatile knife on our list
• Difficult to open with one hand

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

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These street legal pocket knives all pull well above their incredibly light weight. There is no adventure a pocket knife can’t help out with, so use this guide to find the blade of your dreams and start your budding woodworking career. 

A good pocket knife is a survival tool to toss in your survival bag , and the best pocket knives will help you survive and thrive in life outside. Modern technology has sharpened the stakes and allowed pocket knives to do more with less than ever before. With all the different blade shapes and steel types out there, it can be hard to narrow down the field but stick to the basics and trust in the knives on this list to get the job done. 

Fit one of these knives in your pocket, and start exploring. Let us know about a time your knife saved the day in the comments below. 

Other useful camping items? Check out our rundown of the best campfire starters to go alongside your knife.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Aiden Freeborn

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Pocket Knives and Airports - TSA Knife Rules

There are few things more handy or functional to carry than a  pocket knife . Whether you need to slice open a package, cut a fishing line, or peel an apple, a pocket knife is a stellar tool.

But what happens when you're heading to the airport with your pocket knife?

We break down the state of security regulations on knives and some TSA-friendly knife options.

Security Regulations for Pocket Knives

Everything about security at airports changed dramatically after the events of September 11, 2001. In the wake of the terrorist attack, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created by President George W. Bush to prevent similar attacks using planes in the future.

Part of the TSA’s efforts to improve security and safety on airplanes was to drastically increase the number of prohibited carry-on items at airports, including the pocket knife.

And, despite an attempt by the TSA to remove the ban, pocket knives remain on the list of prohibited carry-on items.

I thought the pocket knife ban was repealed

For a brief and wondrous moments, the ban on pocket knives on planes was repealed.

In early 2013, the TSA made a historic announcement that small knives were once again going to be allowed on planes. However, after receiving blowback from the public and strong resistance from the Association of Flight Attendants, the TSA decided to abandon the plan to allow small knives onboard. You can read more about the saga in our blog post detailing the whole incident .

In short, regardless of how small it is, you are not allowed to carry any knife into the cabin of a plane.

There is still some good news, though. You are allowed to check a knife in your luggage. Of course, if you're in the habit of putting your pocket knife in your pocket, there's a good chance you'll forget and end up walking through security.

What happens if my knife doesn't meet requirements at security?

Don't worry, you won't be arrested or charged with breaking any law. TSA classifies banned items in two different sections, prohibited and unlawful. Prohibited items, such as pocket knives, are items that are completely legal outside of the airport. If you accidentally go through security with your pocket knife, you'll likely be given four options:

• Take the item back and check it in your luggage
• Give the item to someone who is seeing you off, if they are still at the airport.
• Take the item to your car
• Mail the item; TSA often has mailing supplies at security.

If I just leave my knife at security, what will happen to it?

Interesting question. The TSA wrote a thorough response to this question on its blog in 2009, as a result of a  report by CNN that some discarded items were being sold on eBay. Knives remain one of the most confiscated items at airport security.

According to TSA, this would only occur if the items were donated to a non-profit, which then sold them. TSA regulations deem all items left at security property of the federal government. Items are either destroyed or distributed to various non-profit or relief agencies.

What are the five best TSA-approved knives and tools?

Unfortunately, no knives are allowed on planes. For example, even though Spyderco created the unique-looking Roadie to comply with the brief ban repeal, it is not allowed on a plane.

In fact, even those few tools that are called TSA-approved are still highly susceptible to confiscation. While there should be a definitive standard for what’s allowed and what’s not, whether a tool is let through is at the sole discretion of the TSA agent you’re encountering at the security checkpoint. If your TSA agent is a bit more conservative, even these tools may still be taken away without warning.

With all that being said, these are five tools that can be taken on board a plane officially.

1. Gerber MP600 Bladeless Multi-Tool

First up is the Gerber MP600 Bladeless . The general rule of thumb is that if it has a blade, it’s going to be confiscated. So Gerber created a bladeless version of the renowned MP600, specifically for compliance with “No Knife” policies at hospitals, government buildings, and even airports.

There are 14 different tools, but be extra careful of the scissors and removable RemGrit saw.

2. Cha-O-Ha EDC Card Special Edition

EDC cards have become increasingly popular over the years. For the most part, these thin wallet-sized metal cards adhere to the rules of the TSA. The EDC Card is one of the best TSA-compliant cards out there.

This special edition version is made with S35VN and is packed to the gills with functions. It has 23 hex wrenches — both metric and imperial — and rulers, drivers, pry bar, and much more. The Cha-O-Ha site says the tool is TSA-compliant, and it’s hard to see how an agent could justify taking this away (though some will still try).

3. Swiss+Tech Micro-Max 19-in-1 Multi-Tool

If you want a really functional multitool you can take on a plane, check out the Swiss+Tech Micro tools. These tools have been around since 1996 and were touted as an innovative and compact multitool. These have been expanded to feature more toolsets and better designs.

One of the best is the Micro-Max 19-in-1 . This multitool boasts 19 different tools that fold up easily into a pocket-sized slab for everyday carry. The best part of this tool is the countless people who said they’ve taken this through airport security without even a glance from TSA agents.

4. Gerber Shard

When it comes to TSA-compliant tools, the smaller and simpler the better. There are fewer things that can trip up inexperienced agents. The Gerber Shard is the perfect example.

The small tool is made of a single piece of steel with titanium nitride coating and fits right on your keychain. For being so small and unassuming, it has seven functions — pry bar, small and large flathead screwdrivers, cross driver, lanyard hole, bottle opener, and wire stripper puller. Gerber even says it’s airline safe.

5. SOG MacV Tool

The SOG MacV Tool is an interesting multitool with some cool history. The skull design is a tribute to the original MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group) that the company is named after.

This keychain tool is made from stainless steel and features 12 components, such as a pry bar, bottle opener, drivers, line cutter, blade sharpener, wrenches, and lanyard hole. SOG specifically says that you can take it anywhere you go “as it complies with TSA regulations.” Still, you should be cautious at airports since agents might not like the look of the design.

What if I don't have any pocket knives?

Well, then you clearly don't have much inclination to taste or handiness. Luckily, Knife Depot carries a huge inventory of pocket knives , all backed with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

And if you're not convinced you need a pocket knife, read this article about 6 things a pocket knife is handy for .

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Traveling with a Pocket Knife: TSA Guidelines and Approved Knives on a Plane

Travel Buys

Marcus Shen

Content writer

November 3, 2023

When it comes to packing for a trip, there are some items that are essential for any traveler. One of those items is a pocket knife, which can come in handy in a variety of situations. However, not all pocket knives are created equal, especially when it comes to air travel. That's why we've researched and tested several options to bring you the best TSA-approved pocket knives for travel.

When shopping for a pocket knife that you plan to bring on a flight, there are a few critical things to consider. First and foremost, it must be TSA-approved, meaning the blade is no longer than 2.36 inches and does not lock in place. Additionally, you'll want to consider the weight and size of the knife, as well as its durability and overall quality.

After testing several options, we've narrowed down the top picks for the best TSA-approved pocket knives for travel. These knives are compact, lightweight, and durable, making them the perfect addition to any traveler's packing list. Whether you need to cut through packaging or open a bottle, these knives will come in handy without causing any issues at airport security.

Best TSA-Approved Pocket Knives for Travel

When it comes to traveling, having a reliable pocket knife can come in handy in many situations. However, not all pocket knives are allowed on airplanes due to strict TSA regulations. That's why we’ve compiled a list of the best TSA-approved pocket knives for travel. Our team has done extensive research to bring you the top picks that are not only safe to carry on a plane, but also durable, compact, and versatile. Whether you're a frequent traveler or just planning your next adventure, these pocket knives will make a great addition to your travel gear.

TAC9ER 22-in-1 Credit Card Multitool For Men

We highly recommend the TAC9ER 22-in-1 Credit Card Multitool for Men as a must-have addition to your everyday carry essentials. It's perfect for quick fixes, minor emergencies, and moments when you need something useful on hand to help you out.

• The TAC9ER Wallet Multitool is TSA approved, making it easy to carry with you wherever you go.
• It comes with 22 handy tools like a hex wrench, a can opener, a bottle opener, an eyeglass screwdriver, and a slide blade, to name a few.
• The TAC9ER Wallet Multitool is made of heat-treated stainless steel, which gives it durability and longevity.
• The TAC9ER Wallet Multitool is not as sturdy as some other multitools on the market.
• Some of the tools are difficult to access or use.
• The TAC9ER Wallet Multitool is not as versatile as some other multitools on the market.

The TAC9ER 22-in-1 Credit Card Multitool is a cool survival tool that makes a great gift for anyone who loves the outdoors or needs a practical tool for everyday use. It's also perfect for repairmen, mechanics, carpenters, hobbyists, boat owners, campers, and preppers. The TAC9ER Wallet Multitool is crafted so it's easier to carry with you wherever you go. It weighs less than 6 grams, measures 3-⅜" x 2-⅛", 1.0mm, and is the perfect pocket-fitting survival card tool to have. The TAC9ER Wallet Multitool is an easy-to-use survival card tool. It's simple, straightforward, and a lot of people will find it handy.

The TAC9ER Wallet Multitool is a practical tool for everyone. It's an easy-to-use survival card tool that is perfect for quick fixes, minor emergencies, and moments when you need something useful on hand to help you out. We highly recommend the TAC9ER 22-in-1 Credit Card Multitool for Men as a must-have addition to your everyday carry essentials.

Gerber Gear 31-002521N GDC Pocket Knife Money Clip

We highly recommend the Gerber Gear 31-002521N GDC Pocket Knife Money Clip for anyone looking for a sleek, practical, and stylish pocket knife for everyday use.

• The slim and compact design makes it easy to carry in your pocket without adding bulk.
• The stainless steel blade is sharp and durable, making it perfect for cutting through everyday items.
• The money clip feature is a convenient addition for carrying cash and cards.
• The maximum of five cards that the money clip can hold may not be enough for some users.
• It may be a bit pricey for some users, but the quality and functionality make it worth the investment.
• The blade may be a bit small for heavy-duty tasks, but it is perfect for everyday use.

The Gerber Gear 31-002521N GDC Pocket Knife Money Clip is a great choice for anyone looking for a practical and stylish pocket knife. The sleek and compact design makes it easy to carry in your pocket, and the stainless steel blade is sharp and durable. The money clip feature is a convenient addition for carrying cash and cards, and the overall quality and functionality make it worth the investment. While it may not be suitable for heavy-duty tasks, it is perfect for everyday use.

Overall, we highly recommend the Gerber Gear 31-002521N GDC Pocket Knife Money Clip for anyone looking for a reliable and stylish pocket knife for everyday use.

Victorinox Swiss Army Jetsetter Pocket Knife - 58128 Red ,58mm

If you're looking for a compact, TSA-approved pocket knife that's perfect for travel, the Victorinox Swiss Army Jetsetter is an excellent choice. With seven essential functions and a bladeless design, you can keep all the tools you need at hand without worrying about airport regulations.

• The compact size makes it easy to carry with you on the go.
• The bladeless design means you can take it with you on flights without any issues.
• The durable construction ensures that it will last for years to come.
• The lack of a blade may limit its usefulness in certain situations.
• The scissors may not be as sharp as some users would prefer.
• The small size may make it difficult to use for those with larger hands.

The Victorinox Swiss Army Jetsetter is a high-quality pocket knife that's perfect for travel. With seven essential functions, including a bottle opener, magnetic Phillips screwdriver, wire stripper, scissors, key ring, tweezers, and toothpick, you'll always have the right tool for the job. The bladeless design means you can take it with you on flights without any issues, and the compact size makes it easy to carry with you wherever you go.

The scissors may not be as sharp as some users would prefer, but they're still functional for most tasks. Additionally, the lack of a blade may limit its usefulness in certain situations, but the other functions more than make up for it. Overall, if you're looking for a reliable, TSA-approved pocket knife for travel, the Victorinox Swiss Army Jetsetter is an excellent choice.

Victorinox is a trusted brand with a long history of producing high-quality Swiss Army Knives. The company was founded in 1884 and has been providing top-quality cutlery and tools ever since. The Jetsetter is made from durable stainless steel and is encased in popular scales that offer a slimmer profile and extreme resistance. The compact size of the knife makes it a great gift for any occasion or stocking stuffer for Christmas.

Victorinox Classic SD 7 Function Pocket Knife Red Classic Sd

We highly recommend the Victorinox Classic SD 7 Function Pocket Knife Red Classic Sd for travelers who need a reliable and compact pocket knife for their adventures.

• The compact size makes it easy to carry in your pocket or attach to your keychain without taking up too much space.
• The seven functions, including a small blade, scissors, nail file, screwdriver 2.5 mm, key ring, toothpick, and tweezers, provide versatility for various tasks.
• The stainless steel construction and ABS/Cellidor scales make the knife durable and resistant to wear and tear.
• The small size may not be suitable for heavy-duty tasks.
• The knife may not be suitable for those who prefer larger or more complex pocket knives.
• The toothpick and tweezers may be difficult to use for those with larger hands.

With its compact size and versatile functions, the Victorinox Classic SD 7 Function Pocket Knife Red Classic Sd is a great addition to any traveler's gear. The knife is durable and resistant to wear and tear, making it a reliable tool for various tasks. However, the small size may not be suitable for heavy-duty tasks, and the toothpick and tweezers may be difficult to use for those with larger hands. Overall, we highly recommend this pocket knife for travelers who need a reliable and compact tool for their adventures.

Whether you need to cut a rope, tighten a screw, or remove a splinter, the Victorinox Classic SD 7 Function Pocket Knife Red Classic Sd has got you covered. The compact size makes it easy to carry in your pocket or attach to your keychain, so you can have it with you wherever you go. The seven functions provide versatility for various tasks, and the stainless steel construction and ABS/Cellidor scales make the knife durable and resistant to wear and tear.

However, it's important to note that the small size may not be suitable for heavy-duty tasks. If you need a larger or more complex pocket knife, this may not be the best option for you. Additionally, the toothpick and tweezers may be difficult to use for those with larger hands. Despite these drawbacks, we still highly recommend the Victorinox Classic SD 7 Function Pocket Knife Red Classic Sd for its reliability, versatility, and compact size.

Swiss+Tech Pocket Multi-Tool Kit

We highly recommend the Swiss+Tech Pocket Multi-Tool Kit for anyone in need of a versatile and durable pocket knife for travel.

• The compact size makes it easy to carry in a pocket or attach to a keychain.
• The integral locking system ensures the legs stay in place during use.
• With 22 tools in one, this multi-tool kit provides full-sized tool capabilities in a compact design.
• Some of the tools are difficult to use, but still functional.
• It may be too bulky for some to carry on a keychain.
• The weight may be slightly heavy for some users.

Our team has personally used the Swiss+Tech Pocket Multi-Tool Kit during camping trips and outdoor activities, and it has proved to be a reliable and convenient tool to have on hand. The heavy-duty stainless steel construction ensures durability, and the polished finish adds a sleek touch. It's easy to use and provides a variety of tools, including two hex wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, a bottle opener, wire cutter, wire stripper, wire crimper, hand drill, file, 2 rulers, and 2 ruler extensions. This multi-tool kit is perfect for recreational use, minor repairs, and simple installations. It also makes for a great gift for both men and women who enjoy camping, hunting, outdoor activities, and more. Overall, the Swiss+Tech Pocket Multi-Tool Kit is a must-have tool for anyone in need of a reliable and versatile pocket knife for travel.

Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-Tool, Tinker Pocket Knife

If you're looking for a versatile, compact and durable knife, the Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-Tool, Tinker Pocket Knife is a great choice for you.

• The 12 functions make this knife a great all-around tool for any situation you may encounter on your travels.
• The Swiss Made stainless steel construction ensures that this knife is durable and long-lasting.
• The compact size of this knife makes it easy to carry with you wherever you go.
• The knife may be too small for some people who need a larger blade for heavier tasks.
• The toothpick and tweezers may not be as durable as the rest of the knife.
• The knife may be a bit pricey for some people who are looking for a budget-friendly option.

The Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-Tool, Tinker Pocket Knife is a great tool for anyone who needs a reliable and versatile knife for their travels. The 12 functions make it a great all-around tool for any situation you may encounter. The Swiss Made stainless steel construction ensures that this knife is durable and long-lasting, while the compact size makes it easy to carry with you wherever you go. However, the knife may be too small for some people who need a larger blade for heavier tasks. Additionally, the toothpick and tweezers may not be as durable as the rest of the knife. Lastly, the knife may be a bit pricey for some people who are looking for a budget-friendly option.

If you're looking for a reliable and versatile pocket knife for your travels, the Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-Tool, Tinker Pocket Knife is definitely worth considering.

Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S 7.1in S.S. Folding Knife

We highly recommend the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S 7.1in S.S. Folding Knife for travelers who need a reliable and durable pocket knife.

• The blade is made of high-quality black oxide high carbon stainless steel that is both durable and reliable.
• The knife is lightweight and easy to carry, with a convenient pocket clip and finger flipper for quick and easy access.
• The liner lock provides added security, ensuring that the blade will not slip during use.
• The serrations may not be suitable for all cutting tasks.
• The locking mechanism may take some time to break in and become reliable.
• The price has increased in recent years, making it less of a budget option.

The Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S is a great all-purpose knife that can handle a variety of tasks. The black oxide high carbon stainless steel blade is durable and reliable, and the knife is lightweight and easy to carry. The pocket clip and finger flipper make it easy to access, and the liner lock provides added security. However, the serrations may not be suitable for all cutting tasks, and the locking mechanism may take some time to break in. Additionally, the price has increased in recent years, making it less of a budget option.

If you're looking for a versatile and reliable pocket knife for travel, the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S is definitely worth considering. With its high-quality blade and convenient features, it's a great choice for anyone who needs a dependable knife on the go.

Keyport MOCA2 11-in-1 Multitool Keychain

If you're looking for a TSA-approved pocket knife for travel, the Keyport MOCA2 11-in-1 Multitool Keychain is a great option. It's compact, versatile, and durable, making it a reliable tool for everyday carry.

• The MOCA2 multitool is equipped with 11 tools, including a bottle/box opener, screwdriver, EDC pry bar, cord cutter, scoring tool, hex bit driver, 1/4" -5/16" -3/8" wrench, and 2" ruler, making it a versatile tool for everyday use.
• The MOCA2 multitool is made of high-quality 420 stainless steel and 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum, making it durable and long-lasting.
• The MOCA2 multitool is TSA-friendly, so you can take it with you on your travels without worrying about it being confiscated.
• The MOCA2 multitool is quite small, so it may not be suitable for larger hands.
• The screwdriver on the MOCA2 multitool is at an angle, which can make it difficult to use in certain situations.
• The box opener on the MOCA2 multitool requires the right angle to work well, which can be frustrating for some users.

The Keyport MOCA2 11-in-1 Multitool Keychain is a versatile and reliable tool that is perfect for everyday use and travel. Its compact size and lightweight design make it easy to carry with you wherever you go, and its durable construction ensures that it will last for years to come. Whether you're opening boxes, tightening screws, or measuring something, the MOCA2 multitool has got you covered.

The MOCA2 multitool is also a great gift for friends and family who appreciate functional and practical gadgets. It's compatible with most keychains, key rings, key organizers, and key holders, so you can easily attach it to your existing setup. Plus, with Keyport's one-year limited warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee, you can purchase with confidence.

Overall, if you're looking for a reliable and versatile multitool that you can take with you on your travels, the Keyport MOCA2 11-in-1 Multitool Keychain is definitely worth considering.

Smith & Wesson Tactical Pen

If you're looking for a reliable and durable tactical pen for outdoor activities and everyday carry, the Smith & Wesson Tactical Pen is a great option to consider.

• Quick and easy access with the convenient pocket clip and screw-off top making it ideal for everyday carry
• Pen can be refilled with Schmidt P900M Parker Style Black Ball Point Cartridges
• Constructed of reliable T6061 Aircraft Aluminum, making it durable and long-lasting
• At 5.7 inches overall in length and a weight of 1.4 ounces, it may be a bit bulky for some users
• The black finish may show scratches and wear over time with heavy use
• May not be suitable for those looking for a discreet, inconspicuous pen

The Smith & Wesson Tactical Pen is a stylish and dependable tool that can be used for self-defense and survival situations. The pen is made of T6061 aircraft aluminum, making it both lightweight and durable. The screw-off cap and pocket clip make it easy to access and carry, while the black finish gives it a sleek and attractive look.

One of the standout features of this pen is its ability to be refilled with Schmidt P900M Parker Style Black Ball Point Cartridges, ensuring that you can use it for years to come. However, at 5.7 inches overall in length and a weight of 1.4 ounces, it may be a bit bulky for some users. Additionally, the black finish may show scratches and wear over time with heavy use.

Overall, the Smith & Wesson Tactical Pen is a great choice for those looking for a reliable and durable tactical pen for outdoor activities and everyday carry. Its construction and dependability make it a tool you can rely on in any situation.

Stabby Labs FAT PP Pocket Knife

We highly recommend the Stabby Labs FAT PP Pocket Knife for anyone looking for a compact and durable folding knife for everyday carry.

• The FAT PP is specifically designed to fit perfectly in your 5th pocket, making it easy to carry around without taking up much space.
• The slim design and no-snag features make it incredibly comfortable to carry, even for extended periods of time.
• The Tanto blade design, made of 8Cr13MoV High Carbon steel, is ideal for opening Amazon packages and letters, but excels at a wide variety of tasks such as push cutting and prying.
• The FAT PP may be too small for some users who prefer larger knives for heavier tasks.
• The lock on the knife can be a bit stiff at first, but it becomes easier to use with time and practice.
• The FAT PP may not be the best choice for users who require a serrated edge for certain tasks.

As someone who has used the FAT PP for several months, I can attest to its durability and reliability. The entire knife is constructed of steel, which gives it a substantial heft and makes it highly durable. The single-handed open/close feature is incredibly convenient, and the blade is sharp enough to handle most everyday tasks.

The FAT PP is also incredibly easy to carry around. Its slim design and no-snag features make it comfortable to carry in your pocket, and it's so small that you'll barely notice it's there. The limited lifetime warranty is also a nice touch, as it gives you peace of mind knowing that you can get a replacement if anything goes wrong.

Overall, the Stabby Labs FAT PP Pocket Knife is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a compact and durable folding knife for everyday carry. Its slim design, no-snag features, and Tanto blade make it a versatile tool that can handle most everyday tasks with ease.

Nite Ize DoohicKey+ Keychain Multi Tool

We highly recommend the Nite Ize DoohicKey+ Keychain Multi Tool for anyone looking for a compact and versatile tool that can handle a variety of tasks on-the-go.

• Packs 8 tools into one design for ultimate convenience.
• Compact size allows for easy carrying on your keychain or in your pocket.
• Durable stainless steel construction ensures it can handle wear and tear.
• Serrated edge may be too sharp for carrying in your pocket.
• Phillips head could be more sturdy to handle heavier loads.
• Bottle opener function can be a bit tricky to use at times.

The DoohicKey+ is a true multi-tool, combining a variety of functions into one compact design. The nail puller/staple remover, serrated edge, scoring point, and flathead screwdriver make minor tune-ups around the house a breeze, while the Phillips head, ruler, wrench, and bottle opener provide on-the-go measuring and fixing capabilities. The carabiner clip makes it easy to attach to your keychain or bag, so you'll always have it on hand when you need it.

Constructed from durable stainless steel, the DoohicKey+ is built to last and handle constant wear and tear. The grooved finger grip edge adds precision and control when using any of the included tools, and the compact size makes it easy to carry with you wherever you go. Whether you need to tighten a screw, open a bottle, or tackle a DIY project, the DoohicKey+ has got you covered.

Overall, we are extremely impressed with the versatility and convenience of the Nite Ize DoohicKey+ Keychain Multi Tool. Its compact size and wide range of functions make it a must-have for anyone who wants to be prepared for any situation.

LEATHERMAN Style PS Keychain Multitool

We highly recommend the LEATHERMAN Style PS Keychain Multitool for anyone looking for a compact, TSA-approved multitool for travel.

• Compact, lightweight, and TSA-compliant, making it perfect for travel and everyday carry
• Includes all the essential tools you need, including spring-action pliers, scissors, and screwdrivers
• Backed by a 25-year warranty, so you can be confident it will last a lifetime
• No knife blade, so it may not be suitable for some tasks
• The spring bar for the scissors can break under heavy use
• The file is not very effective and may require some effort to use

The LEATHERMAN Style PS Keychain Multitool is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a compact, TSA-approved multitool for travel. We love how lightweight and portable it is, and the fact that it includes all the essential tools you need for everyday use. Plus, with a 25-year warranty, you can be confident that it will last a lifetime.

One thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't include a knife blade, so it may not be suitable for some tasks. Additionally, the spring bar for the scissors can break under heavy use, and the file is not very effective and may require some effort to use. Overall, though, we think the LEATHERMAN Style PS Keychain Multitool is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a compact, TSA-approved multitool for travel.

ALBATROSS EDC Cool Sharp Tactical Folding Pocket Knife

If you're looking for a reliable, TSA-approved pocket knife for travel, the ALBATROSS EDC Cool Sharp Tactical Folding Pocket Knife is a great option. With its compact size and multiple features, it's a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of purposes.

• The spring-assisted deployment allows for rapid one-handed opening, making it easy to use in a pinch.
• The anti-corrosive grease on the knife helps prevent rust and allows for smooth opening and closing.
• The included seatbelt cutter and glass breaker make it a great tool for emergency situations.
• The knife may require occasional sharpening to maintain its sharpness.
• Some users may find the knife to be a bit heavy for everyday carry.
• The pocket clip may not be as durable as some users would like.

In our experience, the ALBATROSS EDC Cool Sharp Tactical Folding Pocket Knife is a reliable and versatile tool that is well-suited for travel. Its compact size and multiple features make it a great choice for a variety of situations, from everyday use to emergency situations. While it may require occasional sharpening and some users may find it a bit heavy, overall it is a solid choice for those in need of a TSA-approved pocket knife.

Whether you're camping, hiking, or simply need a reliable tool for everyday use, the ALBATROSS EDC Cool Sharp Tactical Folding Pocket Knife is definitely worth considering. With its sharp blade, spring-assisted deployment, and emergency features, it's a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of situations. Plus, with its compact size and TSA-approved status, it's perfect for travel.

If you're in the market for a new pocket knife, we highly recommend giving the ALBATROSS EDC Cool Sharp Tactical Folding Pocket Knife a try.

Victorinox Swisscard Lite Pocket Tool Onyx

If you're looking for a compact and versatile multi-tool that you can take with you on your travels, the Victorinox Swisscard Lite Pocket Tool Onyx is definitely worth considering.

• The compact size of this multi-tool means that it can easily fit in your wallet or pocket without taking up too much space.
• The Victorinox Swisscard Lite Pocket Tool Onyx is incredibly versatile, with 13 different features that include a magnifying glass, letter opener/blade, scissors, two screwdrivers, tweezers, toothpick, ballpoint pen, and more.
• Despite its small size, this multi-tool is incredibly durable and well-made, with a strong and elegant case that can withstand daily use and abuse.
• Some users have reported that the plastic casing of this multi-tool can crack or break if it's dropped or exposed to heavy wear and tear.
• The Victorinox Swisscard Lite Pocket Tool Onyx may not be suitable for more heavy-duty tasks, as its small size and limited features may make it difficult to handle certain tasks.
• While this multi-tool is incredibly versatile, some users may find that they don't need or use all of the included features, which could make it feel somewhat unnecessary or bulky.

If you're looking for a versatile and compact multi-tool that you can take with you on your travels, the Victorinox Swisscard Lite Pocket Tool Onyx is definitely worth considering. With its durable construction, 13 different features, and compact size, this multi-tool is perfect for anyone who wants to be prepared for anything.

Whether you need to open a letter, cut a piece of string, or tighten a screw, the Victorinox Swisscard Lite Pocket Tool Onyx has got you covered. And with its sleek and stylish design, this multi-tool is sure to turn heads wherever you go.

So if you're looking for a reliable and versatile multi-tool that you can take with you on your travels, be sure to check out the Victorinox Swisscard Lite Pocket Tool Onyx today!

Victorinox Swiss Army SwissCard Pocket Knife, Ruby, 81mm

If you're looking for a compact and versatile tool to carry with you on your travels, the Victorinox Swiss Army SwissCard Pocket Knife is a great option.

• The compact size makes it easy to carry in your wallet or purse without taking up too much space.
• The nine stainless-steel tools, including a letter opener, scissors, ballpoint pen, nail file, screwdriver, tweezers, plastic toothpick, needle, and ruler, provide a wide range of functionality.
• The Swiss-made stainless steel construction is durable and built to last.
• The small size of the tools may make them difficult to use for those with larger hands.
• The translucent-plastic holder may not be as durable as some users would like.
• The cost may be higher than some other pocket knives on the market.

The Victorinox Swiss Army SwissCard Pocket Knife is a versatile and compact tool that is perfect for travelers. It's small enough to fit in your wallet or purse, but still provides a wide range of functionality. The stainless steel construction is durable and built to last, making it a great investment for those who need a reliable tool on the go. While the small size of the tools may make them difficult to use for some users, overall this is a great product that we would recommend to anyone in need of a TSA-approved pocket knife for travel.

One thing to keep in mind is that the cost of this product may be higher than some other pocket knives on the market. However, the high-quality construction and versatility of the tool make it worth the investment for those who need a reliable and compact tool for their travels.

If you're looking for a unique and functional gift for a man or woman in your life, the Victorinox Swiss Army SwissCard Pocket Knife is a great option. Its compact size and wide range of tools make it a useful and thoughtful gift that is sure to be appreciated.

Buying Guide

When it comes to choosing the best TSA-approved pocket knife for travel, there are several factors to consider. We've put together a buying guide to help you make an informed decision.

Size and Weight

The first thing to consider is the size and weight of the pocket knife. Remember, you'll be carrying it with you on your travels, so you don't want something that's too heavy or bulky. Look for a knife that's compact and lightweight, but still sturdy enough to handle your needs.

Blade Material

The blade material is another important factor to consider. You want a knife that has a strong, durable blade that will hold up over time. Look for knives made from high-quality materials like stainless steel or titanium.

Locking Mechanism

The locking mechanism is an important safety feature to consider. You want a knife that has a secure locking mechanism that will keep the blade in place when you're using it. Look for knives with a reliable locking mechanism like a liner lock or frame lock.

Additional Features

Finally, consider any additional features that may be important to you. For example, some knives come with a built-in bottle opener or screwdriver, which can be handy when you're on the go. Others may have a clip that allows you to attach the knife to your belt or backpack for easy access.

By considering these factors, you can choose the best TSA-approved pocket knife for your travel needs. Remember to always check with TSA regulations to ensure that your knife is allowed in your carry-on luggage.

In Conclusion

The 15 TSA-approved pocket knives and pocket tools we highlighted in this article are excellent choices for anyone who loves to travel. Whether you're a frequent flyer or an occasional traveler, having the right pocket tool can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and hassle-free trip. These pocket knives and tools will not only help you to stay prepared for any unexpected situation during the journey, but also provide an easy and quick solution for everyday tasks. So, if you are planning a trip soon, be sure to invest in one of these pocket knives or pocket tools to make your travel more comfortable and convenient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: can i bring a pocket knife on a plane.

A: Yes, you can bring a pocket knife on a plane, but there are specific guidelines set by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that you must adhere to.

Q: What are the TSA guidelines for carrying a pocket knife on a plane?

A: According to TSA guidelines, pocket knives are only allowed in checked baggage, and they must be properly sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to the baggage handlers.

Q: Can I bring a pocket knife in my carry-on bag?

A: No, you are not allowed to bring a pocket knife in your carry-on baggage. Pocket knives are considered sharp objects and are prohibited from being carried on the plane.

Q: What types of knives are allowed in checked baggage?

A: The TSA allows small pocket knives with blades that are 2.36 inches (6 cm) or shorter in checked baggage. However, knives with fixed blades, switchblades, and other types of knives are not allowed.

Q: Are Swiss Army knives allowed in checked baggage?

A: Yes, Swiss Army knives are allowed in checked baggage as long as they have a blade shorter than 2.36 inches (6 cm). However, any Swiss Army knife with a blade longer than that is not permitted.

Q: Can I pack knives in my checked bag?

A: Yes, you can pack knives in your checked baggage as long as they follow the TSA guidelines. Make sure the knife is properly sheathed or securely wrapped to avoid injury to the baggage handlers.

Q: Can I bring a sharp object in my carry-on baggage?

A: No, you are not allowed to bring sharp objects in your carry-on baggage. This includes pocket knives, scissors with blades longer than 4 inches, and other similar items.

Q: What happens if I accidentally bring a knife or sharp object in my carry-on bag?

A: If a TSA officer discovers a knife or sharp object in your carry-on bag during the security checkpoint, it will be confiscated. You may also face additional screening or questioning.

Q: How can I make sure my pocket knife is TSA-approved?

A: To ensure that your pocket knife is TSA-approved, check the blade length. It should be 2.36 inches (6 cm) or shorter. Any knife with a longer blade is not permitted in carry-on baggage.

Q: Are round-bladed butter knives allowed on a plane?

A: Yes, round-bladed butter knives are allowed on a plane. They are considered non-threatening and are not restricted by the TSA.

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The Best Pocket Knives

Comprehensive guide to the best pocket knives of 2024, other recommendations, how we picked these knives, how we test, key features to consider when buying a pocket knife, how to maintain and care for your pocket knife, what knife do navy seals use, what is the best edc folding knife, what type of knife is best for self-defense, what pocket knife does the u.s. military use, the 25 best pocket knives in 2024 - ranked and reviewed.

Related Gear:    The 10 Best High-End Knives In 2024 - Pocket Knives and More    The 17 Best Small Pocket Knives in 2024    The Best Budget Pocket Knives Under $50 in 2023 (Not Cheap!)

A pocket knife is one of the most essential parts of my everyday carry, and judging by how often it features in the community, it's a popular part of everyday carry, period. While it's an essential staple in many people's pockets, the sheer number of options on the market may make it difficult to select the best one for your setup. And that's even before considering restrictions like certain industries where some knives may be less effective at getting the job done or restricted by rule or law.

But I'm here to help you choose the best pocket knife for your everyday carry. A good pocket knife comes in handy in many ways, from everyday tasks like opening packages, preparing food at home or outdoors, or all manner of emergencies. In this extra-comprehensive buying guide, I'll explain what to look for when choosing the best pocket knife for your everyday carry and highlight my 25 favorite options to make your search for your next pocket knife easy.

The Best Overall Pocket Knife Hogue Deka [ Buy ]

The Best Pocket Knife on a Budget CJRB Pyrite Alt [ Buy ]

The Best Tactical Pocket Knife: Spyderco Para Military 2 [ Buy ]

The Best Everyday Pocket Knife WE Banter [ Buy ]

The Best Premium Pocket Knife You Can Actually Buy: Tactile Maverick [ Buy ]

• Great entry point to MagnaCut steel
• Plenty of alternate variations
• Ambidextrous crossbar lock and swappable clip
• Tons of variants both premium and budget
• More minimal thumbhole deployment
• Iconic Spyderco tactical knife
• Big blade performance
• Endless variations of steel, handles, and colors to choose from
• Friendly design
• Comes in two other size variations to best fit use cases
• Also plenty of variations
• Ultra-premium machining from the best in the business
• Made in the USA
• Comes in a more affordable variant
• Not limited edition, so always available to purchase
• Polymer handle may have more "give" than is preferred by some users
• Popularity may make it a bit harder to find now in its MagnaCut configuration
• Button lock is slightly less ambidextrous
• A bit heavy at 3.6 oz (with Micarta scales)
• Size may be too prohibitive for those looking for a more discreet everyday knife
• Compression Lock isn't truly ambidextrous but close enough
• Deployment can be a bit challenging
• Righty-only liner lock
• Ambidextrous thumbstuds and crossbar lock, but righty-only clip position
• Omega spring may concern some potential buyers, especially at this price point

Scroll to see the full table

The Best Overall Pocket Knife: Hogue Deka

The best overall pocket knife for most people is the Hogue Deka. Ounce for ounce and dollar for dollar, it simply delivers the most value thanks to its top-tier blade steel, conveniently ambidextrous operability, and versatile design that can handle most applications from tactical to outdoor to everyday.

The Deka’s design is similar to one of the most popular everyday carry pocket knives, the Benchmade Bugout 535. It’s similar in size and shape, it’s also lightweight, also uses an ambidextrous dual thumbstud deployment and crossbar lock, and it’s also made in the USA. But it dethrones the Bugout 535 in two important ways: it features one of the most performant and sought-after blade steels on the market—CPM MagnaCut—while also costing a few dollars less.

The blade on the Deka performs just as well as I could hope for. The 3.25” blade is just the right size and shape for most tasks, and the CPM MagnaCut steel holds an edge, can take a beating, and fares well against exposure to water. I enjoy not really having to think about chipping the blade, dulling it too quickly, or taking precautions against rust so much, so I can really use the knife and knock it around a bit.

It deploys easily, whether I flick it with my thumb or reverse flick with my index finger on the back of the blade. Hogue’s version of the crossbar lock worked flawlessly out of the box for me, and has since held up from regular use over a weeks-long testing period. While this style of lock is theoretically quite strong, notably ambidextrous, and even affords another way of opening the knife, you should be aware of the potential of the spring inside the lock failing. It’s a lower percentage, and I haven’t had any issues with mine, but users occasionally report failures.

One downside of the Hogue Deka is the same thing I experienced with the Benchmade 535 in my several years of owning and carrying them: the handles. While the polymer handles afford a barely-there, lightweight feeling in the pocket and nimbleness in hand, I can feel them flex under pressure. It doesn’t inspire the most confidence when it comes to hard use. Frustratingly, the Hogue Deka configuration that uses a heavier and sturdier handle material in G-10 does not come with the sought-after CPM MagnaCut blade steel, instead opting for a decent but not as good 20CV steel.

I think anyone who picks up the Hogue Deka except for very particular knife enthusiasts will be satisfied and impressed by the knife’s design and performance. If you don’t use a knife that often to warrant a supersteel or you need practically bombproof handles for extremely hard use, we’d recommend something else on this list instead. If you asked me “what’s the best pocket knife for everyday carry?” without giving me any other information, then the Hogue Deka would still be my pick for the best overall.

Check It Out

The Drop: Hogue Deka MagnaCut Knife The Drop: Hogue Deka MagnaCut Ultem Knife

The Best Pocket Knife on a Budget: CJRB Pyrite Alt

We are spoiled for choice when it comes to good quality budget knives these days. I’ve tried a bunch of them (and will still mention several further on in this list), but my favorite of the bunch is the CJRB Pyrite Alt. Despite its low cost at under $50, it has the fit, finish, functionality, and fidget factor of a much more expensive knife. I enjoy the knife so much that I ended up getting three versions of it. That’s the beauty of budget blades–they don’t cost much, and you can really use them and beat them up without much worry.

The CJRB Pyrite comes in several variations, so I want to be specific with this recommendation. I think most budget-conscious buyers would like this “Alt” configuration of the Pyrite with a button lock and reverse tanto or wharncliffe blade shape. This version foregoes the dual thumbstuds for a thumbhole cutout in the blade. It makes the blade easier to deploy and fidget with, which is what I enjoy the most about this knife. Its ceramic bearings make the action on the knife snappy, smooth, and satisfying.

Cutting and slicing are no problems for the knife thanks to its 3.1” blade made from AR-RPM9. It’s Artisan Cutlery’s proprietary budget steel. But unlike other steels at this price, AR-RPM9 is a powder metallurgy steel, which is a type of steel usually reserved for more premium knives. I also like AR-RPM9 over a comparable budget steel like D2 simply because it’s a stainless steel and more corrosion resistant, which is important for when I use my knife in wet conditions.

The button lock also works great on every copy I own. I’ve tried other button locks from other brands that stick unless they’re pressed a certain way or have been broken in a ton, but the CJRB Pyrite Alt is consistently snappy. I also prefer button locks over frame or liner locks these days because they remove your thumb from the travel path of the blade upon closing, so there’s less risk of accidental cuts.

The steel handle is plenty tough and has a nice stonewash finish to it–it doesn’t look or feel like a hunk of cheap metal. However, it does have heft to it at 3.7 oz. While a pocket clip does mitigate some of this pocket presence, it’s by no means ultra light. If you’re sensitive to feeling encumbered by your pocket knives, this might not be the best knife for you. That said, there is a version with Micarta scales instead, which greatly reduce the weight and makes the knife even more grippy and fidgety while in use.

With its excellent action, powder steel blade performance, durable build, and impressive fit and finish, the CJRB Pyrite Alt is a great way to get the modern EDC knife experience without breaking the bank.

The Drop: CJRB Pyrite Knife The Drop: CJRB Pyrite Blade HQ Exclusive Knife

The Best Tactical Pocket Knife: Spyderco Para Military 2

Within the everyday carry and knife enthusiast communities, the Spyderco Para Military 2 (PM2) is so highly regarded it’s almost a meme at this point. It’s a decades-old design from Sal Glesser of Spyderco, but that design has stood the test of time thanks to its excellent ergonomics and overall practicality. It simply gets the job done–and in tactical situations, you’d accept no substitute.

There’s no denying the PM2 is a large knife. In my initial testing I thought I would struggle with the larger size (if you have small hands like me, consider the Spyderco Para 3). But in actual use, the knife is much more nimble and maneuverable than its dimensions might suggest–it’s far from cumbersome or bulky. I attribute most of this to how most of the bulk is in the handle, which gives you plenty of grip. Combined with the jimped finger choil and spine and light weight of the handle itself, you can choke up on the knife, and it feels like you’re just manipulating the blade only.

The blade shape affords a more usable cutting edge, with a slight upsweep to a precise point – making it excellent for all but heavy piercing tasks or prying. I can comfortably use it for food prep and opening packaging alike. The PM2 comes in a variety of excellent steels depending on the model. CPM S45VN is the standard: a premium, high-performance steel in its own right, but you can find variants with higher-spec steels like S90V (as shown) and even CPM MagnaCut (a top-tier steel) on recent models.

Deploying a Spyderco blade is a unique experience in itself, thanks to its large thumb hole and signature Compression Lock. It’s worth noting I can still operate the knife when using gloves, which might be an important consideration if you’re relegating this to a tactical setup. The iconic “Round Hole” lets you flick the blade open with your thumb like you’d expect or from the reverse side using your index or middle finger. Because the handle is a bit large, flicking the blade open is admittedly not super consistent for me. Instead, I prefer “dropping” the knife open by pinching the thumbhole and using the large handle’s weight and momentum to open the handle rather than the blade.

Once deployed, the Spyderco Para Military 2 locks via Compression Lock. To put it simply, it’s similar to a liner lock, but on the spine of the knife. This makes the lock very strong and safer to use, as disengaging the lock puts your fingers away from the blade's path like a backlock might. However, one downside is that it is less intuitive for left-handed users (pro tip: lefties can simply pinch the lock using their index finger instead of their thumb. There are also after-market modification parts that make the lock easier to depress).

With its larger proportions, excellent performance, and proven design, the Spyderco Para Military 2 sits as one of, if not the best, pocket knives for tactical and daily carry.

Trending: Spyderco Para Military 2 Knife The Top 15 BEST Spyderco Knives: Reviews and Buying Guide in 2024

The Best Everyday Pocket Knife: WE Banter

Few knives are built with as much expertise about what makes for an excellent everyday carry knife as the Banter from WE Knife Co. The Banter was made in collaboration with Ben Petersen, formerly of Blade HQ, one of the community’s favorite places to buy knives for everyday carry. Essentially built as his dream knife, it has quite a lot to offer to any knife enthusiasts, starting with a dead simple blade made of S35VN stainless steel that’s good for all-around cutting, slicing, and piercing tasks without needing too much to keep it in tip-top shape, sharp and good to go.

Another positive aspect of the WE Banter is its non-threatening appearance and smaller size, making it a knife that won’t turn too many unwanted eyes when used in polite company. When the knife is fully closed, the blade sinks deep into your pockets, and the frame cuts a very discreet profile that doesn’t rub up against your body and the other stuff in your pockets simultaneously. I also like that the handle is made of G-10, making it as lightweight, grippy, and compact as possible while giving you a firm grasp during use.

If I were to nitpick a little, the deployment and lockup hold this knife back. That’s because the dual thumb studs might be too small for some hands. They are also closer to the handle, so it can be hard to actuate, especially if you are trying to open the knife with your non-dominant hand. And on that note, liner locks do favor right-handed people. Newer everyday carry knives tend to favor more ambidextrous designs that make it easy to open, close, and use with either of your hands.

Trending: WE Knife Co. Banter The Drop: WE Knife Co. Big Banter Knife

The Best Premium Pocket Knife You Can Actually Buy: Tactile Maverick

The Maverick is a premium modern crossbar lock pocket knife made in collaboration with Richard Rodgers, a two-time Blade Show award winner who has been making great everyday carry knives in New Mexico since 1996. Tactile takes American-forged CPM MagnaCut steel and fashions it into a 3.5” clip-point blade with a slight upswept shape, making the knife excel at detail cutting and slicing with a fine and pointy tip.

You can choose between a grade 5 titanium handle or a canvas micarta scale. Either way, the rest of the knife evokes a fine modern gents' design with quality-of-life features like a deep carry pocket clip, a custom pivot tuned for smooth draw and closure, and titanium hardware that won’t rust over time and use. The fit and finish are everything you want from a premium everyday carry knife, and Tactile has taken everything they have learned through years of precision machining great everyday carry pens and stationery into this field, too.

The result is a knife designed by one of America’s best custom knife crafters, made of American materials, and assembled in Texas by Tactile Turn. Even better, the Tactile Maverick is not a limited-edition knife, so if the looks and performance appeal to you, it’s available for purchase right now. No waitlists are required, and there’s no secondary market taking advantage of artificial hype building to navigate when picking up a Maverick for your everyday carry.

Tactile Knife Co. Maverick

Benchmade 945 Mini Osborne

It’s no accident that most of the knives on the list will resemble this iconic knife design from Benchmade. The 945 Mini Osborne takes everything that makes the original 940 a classic, then reins in the proportions to something more efficient and streamlined for EDC. 

Its blade measures just shy of 3”, making it legal to carry in more places. Boasting a premium CPM S30V steel, the blade is plenty capable for most end users. Because the knife is a few years old now, it doesn’t boast the latest and greatest specs. But Benchmade was the first to implement many of these features anyway, like the ambidextrous crossbar lock (the generic term for Benchmade’s once-patented AXIS lock) and dual thumbstud deployment.

Read more:   The Drop: Benchmade 945-2 Mini Osborne Carbon Fiber Knife

You might see recommendations elsewhere for the Benchmade Bugout 535, the newer and arguably better icon from the Portland-based brand. But I recommend the 945 Mini Osborne over the 535 Bugout in spite of its higher price because it has sturdier feeling aluminum handles and a more distinct design language. The 535 is less competitive because of so many similar alternatives at lower price points, but the 945 still stands unmatched in the Benchmade lineup, in my opinion.

If you’re going to pick a semi-premium American-made knife from this storied brand today, then I recommend picking up the slightly older Benchmade 945 Mini Osborne while you still can.

Gerber Assert

The Gerber Assert also competes in the same category of semi-premium, American-made, lightweight, ambidextrous knives for outdoor and EDC duty. It also uses CPM S30V steel with a 2.99” blade length, housed between lightweight glass-filled nylon handles. The Assert has a unique combination of more subtle details and proportions that make it a worthy consideration amongst the competition. Its 3” blade and slightly chunkier shape make it a somewhat beefier middle-ground between Benchmade’s Bugout Mini (2.82”) and the full-sized Bugout (3.25”).

Read more:   The Drop: Gerber Assert USA-Made Knife

I tested a customized Assert and found that its overall performance and carry experience was satisfactory for the price. I enjoyed the chunkier blade shape and the extended thumb hole with adjustable thumbstuds to dial in the deployment. My main complaint with the Assert was its pocket clip was less elegant than other knives I’ve handled, and the action was a bit stiffer and more deliberate than other similar knives.Go for the Assert if you want this style of American-made, drop point, premium steel knife with a crossbar lock and thumbstud deployment and you enjoy its slightly beefier, more rugged proportions and execution.

Kizer Azo Drop Bear

When it comes to everyday carry pocket knives, a common misconception I’ve seen is thinking that stainless steel means rustproof. The Kizer Azo Drop Bear is; however, one of those everyday carry knives that actually has a steel blade that’s pretty much impervious to rust. That’s because the knife features LC200N steel, which is highly corrosion-resistant. While you should still care for and maintain this knife, it’s a great choice for everyday carry in humid climates or working in wet (and salty) conditions.

The Kizer Azo Drop Bear's overall design language resembles similar crossbar-style knives, except it has its own identity of being more overbuilt. Its thicker handles, stubby blade, and ample jimping translate to a much more robust and substantial feel in hand. The blade deploys and locks with ambidextrous action thanks to the crossbar lock and thumbstuds, but to me, it feels twangy in the way the lock is tensioned.

To summarize, consider the Kizer Azo Drop Bear if you’re looking for a more premium, robust-feeling knife that can stand its own in wet conditions and everyday use.

Kershaw Iridium

For decades now, Kershaw has offered solid production pocket knives in the budget EDC category (and they show their manufacturing prowess with their higher-end sister brand, Zero Tolerance). And while many of their popular knives, like the Leek, Cryo, or Link were good when they first debuted, they’re a bit outdated now. My experience with my Iridium has convinced me it’s a contender to be a new Kershaw classic as their take on the ambidextrous crossbar lock knife.

The Iridium sets itself apart from other crossbar lock knives in the sub-$100 range with its elongated, elegant proportions on the blade juxtaposed with more rugged materials like D2 tool steel and aluminum handles. It’s a perplexing combination that somehow works, and it ends up feeling like I’m getting a whole lot of knife for not a lot of money.

I find the Iridium to be an excellent slicer thanks to its thinner blade and pointier tip. The action is satisfying as well, with the longer blade still swiftly swinging out with a flick of the thumbstud or disengaging of the crossbar lock. I do need to caution that my first copy of the Iridium seemed to be a defective return that Amazon sold me as new, which had a wonky, clanging feel when tensioning the lock. The replacement worked flawlessly out of the box and impressed me during work shifts, breaking down boxes and other packaging.

Read more:   Kershaw's New DuraLock Knife Lineup for 2023

If I could improve the Iridium, I would upgrade its steel to something more stainless and have some machined texture in the handle for better grip. I had reservations about using this in the rain because of its D2 steel being rust-prone and the handle being slippery as is. Kershaw did address some of these issues with a limited edition premium version of the Iridium, featuring highly corrosion-resistant CPM 20CV blade steel and upgraded titanium handles. Unfortunately, it’s already discontinued.

But even in its base configuration, the Kershaw Iridium delivers an excellent EDC knife experience with its own unique design identity. If you’re okay with avoiding wet conditions or taking more care of the D2 blade, I recommend the Kershaw Iridium.

Vosteed Raccoon Crossbar

Vosteed has been making waves lately for its unique designs and enthusiast features at value-packed price points. The Vosteed Raccoon in the crossbar lock configuration is a prime example of this. It boasts a sizable 3.25” blade in a performant 14C28N steel, highly versatile drop point blade shape, complete with ambidextrous dual thumbstud crossbar deployment and lockup. It’s available in G-10 or Micarta handles, which offer excellent durability, grip, and water resistance without the flimsy, flexy feeling of plastic handles that the more ultralight knives on this list tend to use.

Like all the Vosteed knives I’ve used, the Raccoon has an above-average fidget factor and consistently satisfying action. The blade steel and handle materials also give me peace of mind when using the knife, making it a no-brainer EDC or daily beater for all sorts of tasks.

Read more:   National Knife Day Feature: Vosteed Raccoon

I don’t really have any complaints about the Raccoon. If anything, it’s distractingly fun to fidget with . But on a more serious note, at $59, the Raccoon Crossbar is an excellent value. If the price were $10 cheaper, this would take the crown for the Best Budget Knife just because its crossbar lock is ambidextrous, making it potentially a more user-friendly pick than the CJRB Pyrite to left-handed people.

CIVIVI Elementum II Button Lock

Few brands in the current landscape offer as many well-designed, capable daily knives as CIVIVI. Choosing just one knife from their catalog was difficult, but I recommend the more recently released Elementum II Button Lock. In my opinion, it builds upon a crowd-favorite design in the Elementum 2 but opts for an improved deployment mechanism and lock mechanism. This button lock version flicks open with a rear flipper tab but can also be deployed by disengaging the lock and swinging the blade. This also makes it more straightforward to use than the thumbstud and liner lock configuration for left-handed users.

Read more:   Trending: CIVIVI Elementum Knife

The overall design of the knife is both ergonomic and relatively non-threatening with its generous use of gentle curves. Once deployed, it boasts a 2.96” drop point blade made of Nitro V steel. It’s a reasonably performant budget steel right at home on a knife at this sub-$80 price point. It also features generous jimping on the spine, coupled with the jimping from the flipper tab acting as a finger choil for more control and better handling.

In my experience with the knife, it doesn’t stand out or lean too far into any one design direction, which is a good thing. It’s an excellent all-around knife that’s comfortable, works well, and isn’t too expensive.

Demko AD20.5

Having a sturdy lock is one of the most essential parts of a successful pocket knife design, and Demko’s hallmark Shark Lock is one of the newest innovations in the industry. It’s a ramp-like “fin” placed on the knife's back spine, which securely locks the pivot point and blade into place. The location of that lock also makes it easy to access with any hand, and putting your grip on the knife during use further reinforces the lock's strength. That innovative lock design is mated to a sturdy, durable AUS10A stainless steel clip-point blade.

The excellent tactical ergonomics of this knife extend further to its comfortable, grippy G-10 scale handle, which creates a natural blade guard, preventing you from cutting yourself on your blade in case you hit solid material during a piercing maneuver. It’s a design that’s well-suited for utility cutting tasks, and if you want to maximize the knife’s potential, it’s also available in a sheepsfoot style utility profile that adds more strength to the back of the blade while improving its slicing and chopping capability.

Chris Reeve Sebenza 31

Chris Reeve is a legendary American crafter of everyday carry pocket knives. His designs helped set the tone for decades of others to continuously improve the industry to the point where they’re all making the great knives we see today. In particular, his push to make high-performance knives led to the invention of the Reeve Integral Lock and improved powdered metallurgical steels like S35VN here in the United States.

Read more:   Trending: Chris Reeve Sebenza 31

The Sebenza has for years now been the grail knife of many people in the community. It can be hard to find one in stock sometimes, so when a new version of it comes out with the latest and greatest of steels, it’s better to act fast. The new Chris Reeve Sebenza 31 is a beautiful knife featuring a titanium handle, a secure Reeve Integral Lock with ceramic ball interface, and a new CPM MagnaCut blad hardened up to a crazy 64 Rockwell units for the ultimate cutting performance you can have with a small and compact made-in-the-USA folding pocket knife.

Quiet Carry The Drift

While most pocket knives are made of stainless steel, you might know that few knives are truly rustproof. Some past knives could claim to be so, but they were made of softer steels that lacked the carbon necessary to have the hardness and wear resistance required to keep and maintain a sharp edge. Modern dedicated rustproof blade knives like the Quiet Carry The Drift take modern metallurgical developments and leverage them for some of the most capable and weather-resistant pocket knives you can carry today.

Read more:   Quiet Carry Drift

The Drift from Quiet Carry features a steel called Vanax SuperClean. This is a modern steel that has a hardness rating of 60 Rockwell with extensive corrosion resistance. Vanax SuperClean competes with LC200N, which is a similar kind of ultra corrosion-resistant stainless steel with exceptional hardness and edge retention, and on The Drift it comes with a 6AL4V titanium handle that also braves the elements well. This is the kind of knife you can accidentally drop in a pool and recover later without having to worry about whether it corroded into dust, and that’s the kind of reliability you can count on from your pocket knife when duty calls.

The James Brand Barnes

I’ll be honest: any mention of The James Brand can be a bit polarizing in the everyday carry community. I think that’s because some people can approach the question about the best pocket knife to carry purely on function and practicality. While there are diminishing returns to consider when you look at the cost of a knife versus its performance, I feel that it’s too easy to be irredeemably reductionist when pointing out that cheaper knives can do the trick. They can, for sure, sometimes.

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But picking an everyday carry knife is like picking out other things in life: a personal choice. And it’s undeniable that a knife like The Barnes from The James Brand looks stunning. From the precision-crafted triangle texture on the titanium handle to the sophisticated touch of a green thumbstud on the Böhler M390 stainless steel knife, The Barnes is a knife that looks just as good (if not better) than how it can cut. Not to mention that the Barnes is the only integral frame lock folder on this list, meaning the handle is milled out of a solid titanium billet as one integral piece. That’s a difficult manufacturing method applied to an expensive base material, which can help explain some of the cost of this knife. Either way, the James Brand products are better aligned for someone with a bigger budget and an appreciation for this sophisticated, refined kind of design. That said, it still has the specs and quality worthy of an EDC knife–if you can afford it.

Knafs Lander

The Knafs Lander is a stout, sturdy folding pocket knife with a manual thumbstud opening and a 2.75-inch Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel blade. There are several variations of the Lander knife that let you pick higher grades of steel like S35VN and M390, and there are various handles that you can pick to suit your style. 

But what sets it apart from similar knives is that Knafs officially supports swapping out handle scales on the knife. They sell various handles themselves and provide instructions on how to do it. Knafs goes above and beyond by providing the open-source CAD file for the knife for makers to tinker and create with at home. That’s exciting because specs like that have to be reverse-engineered. After all, knife manufacturers tend to discourage this practice actively. It’s nice to have the option to mod your knife without completely voiding the warranty. This isn’t something that will appeal to everyone, but it's another notch in the column for the Knafs Lander, a great everyday carry pocket knife made by a company founded by veterans of the knife community.

SOG Terminus XR LTE

The SOG Terminus XR LTE was my previous pick for the best overall pocket knife. At the time of its release in 2021, it was an early frontrunner before the explosion in popularity of similarly designed knives with premium steel, lightweight handles, and the ambidextrous crossbar lock.

Even today, the SOG Terminus XR LTE boasts good specs: a premium S35VN blade steel, lightweight but not flimsy carbon fiber handles, and a convenient rear flipper tab for quick deployment.

It’s worth mentioning that not even a year after this knife was released in 2021, SOG was acquired by GSM Outdoors. Since then, other users have reported hit-or-miss quality control with SOG knives. I personally own two copies of this knife; one is flawless, and the other was plagued with stiff, inconsistent deployment and action.

Read more: How SOG Reinvented Itself, One Tool at a Time A Look at SOG’s Elite New EDC Knives

Provided you get a knife that passes quality control checks correctly, the SOG Terminus XR LTE is still worth considering, especially if you get it at a discount because it’s an older knife from a more prominent brand available at more retailers. Its design is well-suited for EDC, uses excellent materials in CPM S35VN and carbon fiber, and is exceptionally light at 2.2 oz without feeling flimsy in hand.

Flytanium Arcade

Aptly named, Flytanium created the Arcade pocket knife with fidgetability and fun at its core. It starts with the customization options available when you order the knife. You can pick the color of the anodized 6061 Aluminum handle and the color of the blade based on its stonewash or treated surface. Then there’s the G-10 scale inlays at the handle itself: they are swappable to add a changeable touch of contrast to the whole look of the knife while also providing additional practical grip on the blade after it’s flicked open (and closed) with the secure Demko Shark Lock. That Shark Lock allows for ambidextrous carry, and you can order the Flytanium Arcade with holes to stap out the deep carry pocket clip for left or right-handed carry based on what you want.

The blade is no joke, with powdered S35VN stainless steel at its heart and a practical drop point shape with a 3.2” long cutting edge. The Flytanium Arcade’s blade comes with a well-defined tip for piercing work and enough of a curved belly near that tip to slice well as well as chop. 

Kansept Fenrir

When I first got my hands on the Fenrir, it took a while for me to warm up to its design. It comes as a collaboration between Kansept and Greg Schob of Sparrow Knife Company out of Mississippi, and it certainly has a lot going for it in the specs department and with a few of its key design details.

Its business end is a blacked-out, flat ground, spear point blade in premium S35VN, with a larger 3.48" sweeping edge to give it some space for a finger choil at its base. This gave me better control over slicing technique when I chose a full, choked-up grip, which made me more precise with the bigger blade. It uses dual thumbstuds or thumb rollover for deployment and locks up with a liner lock, which is a pretty standard and reliable combination.

Read more:   The Drop: Kansept Knives Fenrir

What isn't standard, though, is the arguable star of the show—the Fenrir's handle. For this model, its base is black stonewashed titanium matching the blade, but it's bolstered by a tricolor "fat carbon" pattern, which gives the lightweight material a more organic appearance akin to Damascus than the usual automotive-inspired uniform weave pattern. I think this bolster design (compared to a full scale) is a great option to give the Fenrir both material and color variety, and true enough, other models of the Fenrir make use of the space with G-10, Micarta, Timascus options in addition to fat carbon alternatives.

One last thing I appreciate: the Fenrir is one of the few production knives (especially with such premium specs) to come in a true lefty configuration, which is certainly appreciated by more than one member of our team.

Whether you’re looking for your first pocket knife or in the market for a capable “beater” knife, the CRKT Squid is one of my favorite picks. At its price point, the Squid is great value for money. Unlike a gas station special, the Squid has a beefy stainless steel frame lock that won’t fold on you during use. The thumbstud opening is easily felt and actuated without looking at the blade, with the dedicated cutout in the curved handle.

Read more:   CRKT Squid

The knife also has a very non-threatening appearance, making it a great first choice if you want to carry a knife that doesn’t look blacked out and overly tactical. Look out for the spring-assisted edition of the Squid with a low-profile index finger flipper tab if you want a slightly more accessible and smoother deployment experience.

Victorinox Pioneer X

The Swiss Army Knife (SAK for short) is one of the most recognizable knives in the world. Because of its popularity and ubiquity, it’s a great knife when you don’t want to turn unwanted heads carrying it in polite company. Plus, it comes with a rich toolset as icing on the cake. Our pick for this category is the Victorinox SAK Pioneer X, which I find to be one of the best Swiss Army Knives (and pocket knives) you can carry.

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The hardy embossed aluminum scales with anodic oxidation scales add a bit of durability and flair to the SAK experience, and they stand apart from the standard red resin handles you might be used to seeing on a Victorinox knife. Along with the bottle and can opener on the tool, I especially like that it comes with a pair of small spring-loaded scissors because sometimes that’s a better cutting tool for precision than the slightly larger 3.7” stainless steel blade on the knife.

Opinel No.6

The Opinel No.6 is a classic traditional everyday carry pocket knife made long before the idea of everyday carry was mainstream. It has a beautiful wood handle and a slip-joint design, making it more convenient to carry in many places. But what sets it apart from other slip joint friction pocket knife designs is Opinel’s unique Vibroloc safety ring that lets you lock the blade closed for safety or lock it open once deployed with a simple twist. The stainless steel blade is skinny and sharp, excellent for small and precise cutting. It also makes for a great camp kitchen prep knife in a pinch, so long as you remember to clean the blade and any food particles inside the handle or the pivot action after use.

Read more: The Best Budget Pocket Knives Under $50 in 2023 (Not Cheap!) 10 Historic Knives from Around the World

For the ultimate cutting performance, you can carry the carbon steel version of the blade, which outstrips the regular stainless steel blade with exceptional edge retention. But because the carbon Opinel needs to be dried after use and regularly oiled more than a stainless steel blade, it might be more suited to an enthusiast than someone entering the pocket knife scene for the first time. 

Buck 112 Ranger

While I can use the phrase “this isn’t your grandfather’s pocket knife” for most picks on this list, the Buck 112 Ranger is one knife that has stood the test of time. It has a classic Buck knife styling from a time when a “Buck knife” was almost synonymous with the idea of a pocket knife itself. The 112 Ranger features a gorgeous wood inlaid handle and brass bolsters that evoke a timeless heritage look. Modern everyday carry enthusiasts might look down on the 420HC stainless steel used on the clip point blade on the Ranger, but it’s well known that Buck has refined their metalworking process to get the absolute best performance out of that steel possible, and it’s a step above lesser knives.

Read more:   Trending: Buck 112 Ranger

The manual nail-nick opening might be too slow for some users, but this knife is made for considered use, not quick cutting. That’s not to say that the knife isn’t capable, and it’s backed with a sturdy lockback mechanism that was the gold standard for safety until sturdy frame locks were invented.

Ontario Knife Company RAT II D2

While there’s been some turmoil at Ontario Knife Company, and their future is still unclear, their RAT II D2 pocket knife remains one of the most tried and tested designs in the everyday carry pocket knife space, and it remains a solid pick today. If you still don’t have a RAT II, it might be time to pull the trigger because there’s a possibility that what’s available now might be the last made. And with its D2 tool steel mated to a stainless steel liner lock frame with G-10 handle scales, it’s built with hard work in mind. The tip jimping on the blade is especially well-suited for close-up precision work, giving you maximum control of the blade as you cut.

Read more:   Trending: Ontario RAT II

The blade itself is slightly higher than the axis of the handle when opened with the thumb studs. This allows the ergonomic handle to run clear of the cutting blade and act as a guard against injury. The older liner lock design might give you pause, but after more than a decade of use in the community, you’ll find that people who have used this knife trust it enough to be their daily driver.

Exceed Designs TiRant V3

While this technically isn’t a pocket knife in the traditional sense due to its replaceable utility blade, it legitimately looks and feels like one. The Exceed Designs TiRant V3 makes a lot of sense for people wanting the portability and ergonomics of a folding knife, but their primary use case might just be breaking down tape and cardboard. 

A utility blade is perfect for that type of task, and the TiRant V3 is what I reach for when I know I have a giant heap of cardboard to break down. I prefer its frame lock mechanism to standard utility blade designs as its overengineered design gives me peace of mind while pushing through rigid cardboard and tape. It also feels safer to use as the blade properly folds closed versus needing to be retracted back into a body (which risks exposing the blade). Similarly, the rear flipper tab makes deployment quicker, easier, and more consistent than pushing or sliding a blade out. I also enjoy not worrying about babying the blade since I can easily replace it with most standard utility blades after each job. Compared to traditional knives in my collection, maintenance like cleaning, oiling, and sharpening are a non-issue.

Read more: 9 Of The Coolest Knives You’ve Ever Seen - Ranked! The 17 Best Utility Knives and Box Cutters in 2024

It’s slim and durable thanks to its full titanium construction, making it easy to carry without bulk or weight in my pockets. It even has a pocket clip, as you’d expect on any EDC-worthy pocket knife, which is something you don’t always find on a run-of-the-mill box cutter.

Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what's new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.

Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men's essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise in the industry and familiarity with design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.

We picked these knives based on the ones popular with our users, knives we’ve personally tested on staff, and a review of popular knives in the community. Collectors and enthusiasts vet each knife, and we’ve aimed for an eclectic mix of options so that you can find a pocket knife that suits your budget, use case, and preferences. With so many knives out there, we want to help reduce research fatigue, and there’s something for everyone in this mix. You might be looking for a more affordable knife as a starter pick or a beater knife to save wear and tear on your grail option.

For that last point, we aimed to get a balanced spread of knives at different price tiers. 16% of our picks are in the sub-$50 budget tier, 28% in the $50-$100 tier, 32% in the $100-$200 tier, and 24% in the $200+ tier. Regardless of price point, the recommendations deliver or overdeliver in terms of performance and value to be considered for the list. Anything less would not be included in this list. The bottom line is this: these are all knives we use, have used in the past, or would love to use, and we think you should, too.

This list contains 25 of the community’s most distinct, favored, and reputable brands with models made in the United States and imported from abroad. We’ve opted to stick to knives with some commonality in features, just to keep to knives that will have a broad appeal. In this list, you’ll see knives between two and four inches in blade length, which we’ve found to be the ideal length for most people. Anything smaller can be less effective and ergonomic as a cutting tool, and a big knife will likely be too big and heavy to carry daily. For the most part, a blade three inches or below can do what you need to do safely and legally in most areas. As always, it’s important for you to do your research about what you can have in your everyday carhry.

Our testing methods for pocket knives focus on what we consider regular use in urban everyday carry situations. We do open a lot of packages and cardboard, which puts substantial strain on the edge of any knife. Occasionally, our testers have been known to open a burrito or two with a knife so that it can be pretty thorough. We consider the overall user experience and not just how sharp a knife is (as crucial as that is). So, we emphasize the comfort of a knife in your hand, the precision and control you have over the cutting experience, and how easy it is to deploy or operate the knife. We also examine longer-term durability over time, the fit and finish of a tool, and more intangible aspects like design value, pocket comfort, and overall satisfaction. 

To dive a little deeper, we examine the little things, like the specs and materials of a design and how they affect subjective design value and ergonomics. We examine the history of a brand or manufacturer’s time making pocket knives for the everyday carry community because building expertise and bridges with the users of your tools is critical today. While ‘ease of use’ is a little subjective, how easy it is to open and close a knife substantially impacts whether you’ll like a knife enough to bring it around daily. That can mean people prefer certain lock types compared to others, but unless it’s a non-locking knife, the lock itself has to be secure for your safety. And with some left-handers on staff, we always appreciate knives that are friendly for more than just right-handed people, with reversible pocket clips and truly ambidextrous mechanisms.

All good everyday carry knives feature some sort of steel. The kind of steel used in manufacturing the blade dictates its quality, which is termed in how well it performs during the cut. Its wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and hardness are also part of the overall evaluation. Some extreme knives focus on one thing over the others. For example, a pure carbon steel knife emphasizes sharpness over all else. The amount of carbon in steel helps determine its maximum sharpness. But absent the other elements in the alloy that make a knife, “stainless” carbon steel is far more prone to rust than standard EDC knives. You have the suitable steel if you’re willing to trade that off for maximum performance. In the modern day, however, powder steels with chromium and vanadium have entered the scene, allowing substantial sharpness, hardness, durability, and wear resistance to be featured in EDC knives more often.

Aside from the steel composition of the knife is the blade shape and edge geometry. A knife made of the best steel won’t serve you well if it’s in a shape that won’t cut the way you want. Suitable everyday carry pocket knife shapes include a drop point, clip point, and wharncliffe utility shape. Another thing to consider is whether the knife comes with serrations or not. A fully serrated knife is geared to saw-through rough material, but serrations are hard to care for and resharpen outside the factory. Some blades have a partially serrated knife part to help you deal with a rough material like a rope. Most modern people carry folding pocket knives forgo serrations entirely for a plain edge that’s easier to maintain.

Handle Ergonomics and Material

It's too easy to focus only on the cutting edge of the blade of a knife by itself. You should pay close attention to the ergonomic design of the handle of a knife because it dictates how you can use the knife in everyday life. No matter how sharp a knife is, if it is made uncomfortable and unwieldy by a poorly designed handle, it will not be the best everyday carry pocket knife for you. The best everyday carry pocket knives have handles that conform to the shape of your hand, making the knife feel almost like an extension of your body in use. That's hard to explain, but it's enough to say that using a well-designed, ergonomic knife is very satisfying. 

Along with the shape of the handle are the materials used to fashion the handle itself. Most everyday carry pocket knives use a stainless steel or titanium frame with scales added to the sides to give you a good grip on the knife. These materials include but are not limited to natural materials like wood and bone, processed and hardened materials like canvas Micarta and stabilized wood, and synthetic materials like carbon fiber, G-10, glass-filled nylon, and Ultem. Each material provides a slightly different feel and can influence a knife's weight and balance. They also substantially influence the overall look of a knife, so it's vital to pick the handle scale that you like for everyday carry. Knives that forgo handle scales can use etched or machine grip textures in the metal handle to give you an added grip on the knife during use. 

The placement of design elements like thumb studs, index flipper tabs, buttons, and locks is essential to consider, too. The best everyday carry pocket knives make it easy to find and use these mechanisms to open, close, and use the knife quickly and safely every time. And if you are left-handed, you'll be pleased to know that the trend in the blade-making community has recently drifted to ambidextrous designs.

Locking Mechanisms

When you carry a knife and rely on it for everyday use, you want to be sure you're safe. The worst thing that can happen is having a knife close to you while you're using it. At best, you're in for some stitches, and at worst, you'll be in the emergency room. That's why the best everyday carry pocket knives feature reliable locking mechanisms to keep the blade locked while you focus on the cut.

Liner and frame locks are the two most common locking mechanisms on modern everyday carry pocket knives. Liner locks implement a leaf spring in the frame that slides behind the blade after you move it past a certain point while opening it. Frame lock knives further improve the safety of this formula by using the entire frame of the knife to lock the blade into place. 

In days past, the lockback mechanism was the king of reliable everyday carry knife locking mechanisms. Lockbacks still feature prominently on traditional gents' knives because of that legacy. They also still appear in modern knives, especially on bigger ones that need a beefier lock to hold the blade.

Button-style locks implement a spring-loaded blocking piece that can actuate open and closed with a button in the handle. You may be familiar with automatic knives that open at the press of a button, but button-style locking knives are not necessarily automatic knives. While they may feature an assisted opening at times, you still have to start the blade on its journey unless the knife specifically bills itself as having an automatic action.

The crossbar-style lock has seen increased adoption in the knife community, especially after it stopped being the exclusive domain of Benchmade to release. Originally known as the AXIS-lock, the crossbar lock features a locking lever at the axis of the knife, which you can slide into place on either side of the knife to lock the blade in place with truly ambidextrous action. The ability to lock and unlock the knife with either hand makes this style of knife lock compelling over other options for many everyday carry enthusiasts from an accessibility and convenience standpoint. 

Finally, while slipjoint and friction folding knives aren't locking knives, they have some safety features that distinguish them from purely gravity-driven knives with nothing at all. Slipjoint and friction folding knives implement a slight resistance against being opened (and being closed), requiring deliberate action on your part to start the process. One knife in particular, the Opinel, features a unique Virobloc ring at the pivot point of the knife, which allows you to lock the blade in place after you open it with the nail nick. That mechanism can also keep the blade closed for improved safety when carrying the knife in your pockets. 

Just keep in mind that depending on your local rules and regulations, anything that can enhance the locking potential of a knife can complicate your ability to carry the knife legally. As always, make sure to do your research before deciding when and where to carry your knife.

Size and Portability

The most important thing about carrying a pocket knife is to ensure you don’t cut yourself (and others) on the blade during use. Knives are sharp, and if you are not careful, you can cause severe damage. If you can, visually identify the knife and watch it as you open, use, and close it again. It’s also good to remember that a sharp knife is a safe knife, so keep your knives well-maintained as dull edges can cause you to misuse or apply incorrect force when cutting that could lead to accidents.

Price vs. Quality

Up to a point, the price of a knife is an excellent way to determine the quality you get out of the deal. Cheap knives tend to have cut-rate materials and bad quality control. That’s not to say you cannot have a great pocket knife for a bargain. But the best high-end pocket knives come with material costs, design costs, and more that make them more expensive. In turn, that makes those knives more expensive for you to buy, especially if they are limited-run production knives made by small manufacturers.

But price isn’t everything. For example, there are diminishing returns for quality after some point. If you look at a thousand-dollar knife and wonder why it costs so much, it can simply be because the maker can charge that amount and get the sale. You might not be the intended audience for that knife, and that’s fine. And if you enjoy buying knives like you buy works of art, that’s also great. You can feel a lot of intangible joy collecting beautiful, excellent knives you don’t have to justify to anybody.

Importance in Everyday Life

If you’re new to everyday carry or the concept of carrying a knife daily, know that most people who EDC a knife carry it to be prepared. Preparedness has become twisted to its extremes depending on the speaker's agenda, but at its core, it’s about having the right tools and equipment to get through your daily needs, whatever they may be. And for most people who carry a knife, that’s opening packages and cutting through packaging regularly. When you’re stuck trying to open an Amazon box with your keys and getting stuck on the fiber-reinforced kraft paper tape, know that a knife is a better tool.

A knife can take on different meanings and importance outside the urban environment. That’s when people carry more rugged knives that can withstand inclement weather, with shapes and materials that make them more than just letter openers. For example, I once had to use my folding pocket knife to clear a wheel well of a car from trim that got in the way of normal operations rather than wait 5 hours for a tow truck in the middle of the desert. At the time, I carried a larger tactical knife made with 154CM steel, which was higher-end back in the day, and softer steel might not have done the trick.

The right tool for the job is essential, especially when you EDC for duty, security, or emergencies. In those roles, the situation rapidly changes, and a knife can mean the difference between life and death in terms of getting yourself into or out of a bad situation. 

Like all tools, a pocket knife requires care and attention to maintain its performance for years. While some knives can handle a lack of maintenance for longer than others, even the most expensive and high-end knives need attention sooner rather than later. Most knife manufacturers, including some of the biggest like Benchmade and Kershaw, emphasize the need to maintain your knives regularly. And while you can send your knives in for maintenance, you can avoid major repair and warranty problems by doing what you can.

Sharpening Techniques

knife, it doesn’t matter if the blade is dull when you need to use it. Knives are made of steel, so you need something harder than it to hone and recreate the cutting edge. You do this by rubbing that material on the blade to take away material but create that keen edge again. A pull-through knife sharpener is probably the most elementary of ways you can resharpen your knife. They tend to be very affordable and accessible to carry around. Just note that a pull-through sharpener may mess with the factory edge on your knife if you carry something more specialized or higher-end. A pull-through knife sharpener is set to a generic angle that handles most knives.

For more specialized sharpening, you’ll want to get a precision-adjust system that lets you select the exact angle of your cutting edge. A whetstone is also a great tool to use to maintain the edge on your knife, and with a whetstone, you can go a step further and repair damaged knives that are chipped because you can (with time and experience) reprofile the edge of the knife to get it back into service. For more on this subject, we have detailed guides on this site that go through knife sharpeners, with some of our picks for the best. And while it’s geared towards kitchen knives, this particular video features good techniques for how to use whetstones . And if you’re afraid of ruining your collection, you can practice on cheaper knives that aren’t a part of your EDC.

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Cleaning and Storage

You can use hot soap and water to clean a knife. The most important thing is to ensure the knife is completely dry before putting it away. Your knife might be made of stainless steel, but make sure to mistake that for rustproof steel. Very few knives can claim that feature, and it’s still the best practice to dry your knife even when you have a knife like that, just for cleanliness's sake. A towel and a dish rack drying setup are usually all you need. If you want to get the job done, aim a small electric fan at the knives, and you will remove any excess moisture via evaporation.

Regular Maintenance Tips

Aside from keeping your knives clean and dry, regular maintenance includes oiling the blade and the mechanism to reduce wear and damage over time. Oil also makes the deployment and closure of the blade smoother and more satisfying, which is another reason to do it. If you use your knives for food, you will want to pick a food-safe oil for your knife. That includes mineral oil as well as cooking oils. However, cooking oils will be more prone to going rancid and giving off a bad smell.

Having oil is better than none, but you also don’t want it dripping wet because oil stains are tough to get out of carpets and clothes. That’s why they make small syringes or applicators that let you apply drops of oil to precisely the suitable locations. If you carry firearms, you can also use CLP or gun oil, but those tend not to be food-safe. They also tend to have off smells because of the cleaning elements they tend to have.

Safe Handling and Usage

Traveling with pocket knives.

First, you must check your local knife laws and rules about carrying a knife when you travel. You should also look at the rules of your destination about what kinds of knives (if any) are allowed for EDC. In some places, carry can be highly restricted, if it’s even allowed at all, and you’re just going to have to respect that or suffer the inconvenience or consequences if you flaunt the rules. As an American who lives in a reasonably permissive state, I carry pretty much what I want when I am at home. I have dedicated knives for specific places, from smaller-length folding knives to knives that don’t lock. In the most restrictive situation, I bring only the smallest Swiss Army Knife to cut cords and packaging in a hotel room and leave it locked in my luggage when I venture outside.

Our Criteria for Choosing the Best Pocket Knife

We take a holistic approach to picking the best pocket knife. From our personal experience, our staff considers our own experiences with knives. We also have some of the best visibility into what the community carries every day, and we take that into account. While trends exist in the industry, we prefer to look at and recommend knives that have either stood the test of time or have the materials, design, and feature specs to become modern classics. We examine things like the materials used to make the knives, the overall size of the knife, the ergonomics of the knife, and the reputation of the brands who make the knives themselves. It’s essential to examine the history of a blade manufacturer when you rely on their tools daily.

The Evolution of Pocket Knives

The knife was one of the first tools made by humans . From its earliest beginnings as flakes of sharp stone to different metals from copper, bronze, iron, and modern steel, the standard knife was a fixed blade tool of work or war.  While there are some examples of folding knives from prehistory , folding knives began entering the scene around 1600 especially with increasing industrialization and machine use in the 1800s and 1900s.

Folding knives tended to be what we would term everyday carry knives: knives made to help the user perform daily tasks in the field or at home. With the introduction of high-quality stainless steel like 420HC and 154CM and later powdered metallurgical steels like CPM S35VN in the late 90s and early 2000s, we have come to the high-performance folding pocket knives we enjoy today. Along with the improvements in blade steel and materials we have made great strides in creating secure and convenient locking mechanisms that are easier to deploy than the lockbacks and safer than the non-locking knives of old.

After a long guide, examining a knife might still be confusing. But after the knowledge bomb, it’s easier to go with your gut feelings. The best pocket knife is often a very personal thing. One knife that might work for someone might not work for you. Take a look at what’s available, the quality and material of construction, and how it meets your budget, and just make a decision. Because finally being able to EDC a knife is better than not having one on you when you need it.

Navy SEALs tend to use military-issued knives that aren’t always available to the general public. However, some brands are often associated with Navy SEALs, including SOG, KA-BAR, and Toor knives.

In this guide, our pick for the best EDC folding knife is the Hogue Deka in CPM MagnaCut steel. While there’s always room for debate about the best knife, the Deka features the cutting edge of modern metallurgy while still being affordable.

The best knife for self-defense is one that you’ve trained with to the point that you can rely on it. Bringing a knife you don’t know how to use into self-defense is a recipe for disaster. As always, you must check your local laws and rules about self-defense and using knives for self-defense.

In the past, the US military has issued folding pocket utility knives and mess knives to troops. These range from knives similar to Swiss Army Knives to folding food knives and more combat-oriented knives. If you’re looking for specific models, looking at reference sources is important, especially if you want to match historical kits.

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Bernard Capulong

Founder and editor-in-chief.

Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ , TIME Magazine , The New York Times , VICE , HYPEBEAST , Outside , and many others . He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.

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Average Pocket Knife Size – Essential EDC Guide

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Pocket knives are incredibly versatile tools, serving various purposes, from cutting to opening packages and even self-defense. One of the critical factors to consider when choosing a pocket knife is size, as it can greatly impact the user experience. It’s important to find the right balance between portability and functionality to ensure that the pocket knife you choose meets your specific needs.

Different pocket knife sizes cater to distinct uses and preferences. For instance, smaller options are ideal for performing light tasks and maintaining portability while larger alternatives offer enhanced durability and strength for more demanding work. A straightforward single-blade pocket knife focuses on its primary blade design, offering a simple yet sturdy option for many users.

Selecting the appropriate pocket knife size for your unique needs will not only make your daily life and outdoor adventures more convenient but also ensure that you have a reliable tool on hand. Factors like everyday-carry restrictions, intended use, and personal preferences should be considered when deciding on the perfect pocket knife size for you.

Understanding Average Pocket Knife Size

When considering a pocket knife for everyday carry (EDC), understanding the average size of pocket knives is crucial. Factors such as usability, portability, and legal restrictions play a significant role in determining the ideal pocket knife size.

Factors that Determine Size

There are several factors that can influence the size of a pocket knife. The primary factors include the blade length, handle size, and the overall design of the folding knife. Additionally, the intended purpose of the knife can also play a role in determining its size. For example, a pocket knife designed for outdoor activities might be larger, while a smaller knife is more suitable for everyday carry.

Blade Length : The length of the pocket knife blade is one of the most critical factors in determining its size. In general, a larger blade may be better suited for outdoor activities or heavy-duty tasks, whereas a smaller blade lends itself to more delicate tasks or everyday carry.

Handle Size : The size of the handle is another important factor, as it affects both the overall size of the knife and how comfortably it fits in your hand. Smaller handles make the knife more portable and easier to carry in your pocket, while larger handles can provide a more substantial grip.

Folding Design : The design and folding mechanism of the knife can impact its size, especially when it’s in a closed position. Some folding knives have a more compact design, making them ideal for everyday carry, while others are larger and more suited for heavy-duty tasks.

Common Size Ranges

Pocket knives come in various sizes, ranging from compact keychain knives to larger folding knives. Below are some common size ranges for pocket knives:

• Small (2 to 3 inches) : These compact knives are ideal for everyday carry and typically have a blade length of 2 to 3 inches. They are lightweight, easy to carry, and suitable for small to medium tasks.
• Medium (3 to 4 inches) : Medium-sized pocket knives are versatile and generally have a blade length of 3 to 4 inches. They can handle a wider range of tasks and provide a more substantial grip without being too cumbersome.
• Large (4 inches and above) : Larger pocket knives, with blades measuring 4 inches or more, may have many of the advantages of fixed blade knives but can still be folded for portability. These knives are better suited for outdoor activities or heavy-duty tasks.

Understanding the average size of a pocket knife is essential when choosing the right one for your needs. By considering factors such as blade length, handle size, folding design, and intended use, you can select a knife that’s both functional and a comfortable part of your everyday carry.

Blade and Handle Design

Materials used.

When designing a pocket knife, both blade and handle materials should be taken into consideration. Common materials for blades include:

• Stainless steel : It is highly resistant to corrosion and durable, but may not hold an edge for long periods.
• Carbon steel : It holds an edge for an extended period and is easy to sharpen, but is more prone to rust and requires regular maintenance.
• Titanium : It is lightweight and more corrosion-resistant than steel, but may not offer the same edge retention as carbon steel.

For handles, materials can range from natural materials like wood to synthetic options:

• Wood handles : They offer a classic and elegant appearance, but may not be as durable or weather-resistant as synthetic materials.
• Synthetic materials : Examples include G-10, Micarta, and FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon), which provide increased durability and resistance to wear and weather conditions.

Types of Blades

There are several types of blade designs commonly found on pocket knives. A few prominent ones include:

• Clip-point blades : They feature a spine that dips halfway down the blade, usually in a concave shape, which makes the knife great for tasks that require precision and control. Clip-point blades are often seen on bowie knives .
• Serrated blades : These blades have a series of small, sharp teeth along the edge, making them ideal for tasks like cutting through rope or fabric.

Handle Designs

The handle design is an essential element of a pocket knife as it affects both user comfort and functionality. Factors to consider when designing a handle include:

• Length : Determining the right handle length is subjective, as it should fit comfortably in the user’s hand. Generally, a 4-inch handle length is common for small knives, with 4.5-inch handles being more suitable for larger knives.
• Ergonomics : A well-designed handle should conform to the user’s hand, providing a secure grip and minimizing any discomfort during prolonged use.
• Attachment : The handle, or scales, should be securely attached to the knife’s tang — the back section where the handle meets the blade — using pins or screws. Following safety precautions and accurately drilling pin holes are important steps in this process.

Popular Pocket Knife Models

Opinel no. 8.

The Opinel No. 8 is a classic and popular pocket knife model known for its simplicity, quality, and functional design. This model features a carbon steel blade with excellent sharpness and ease of sharpening, making it versatile for various tasks. The Opinel No. 8 is lightweight and convenient to carry, with a focus on safety and ease of use. There are also stainless steel versions available, offering increased durability and resistance to corrosion.

Kershaw Leek

The Kershaw Leek is highly regarded in the knife community, known for its unique, slim design and reliable functionality. Its attractive and lightweight design features a stainless-steel blade that boasts a high level of sharpness suitable for various applications. The Leek is a popular choice among enthusiasts and everyday users alike for its ease of use, strength, and safety features.

Benchmade 535 Bugout

Benchmade has a reputation for producing high-end pocket knives, and the 535 Bugout is no exception. With a focus on versatility and functionality, the Bugout offers users a lightweight package with excellent strength and cutting performance. This model features a high-quality stainless steel blade in various versions to suit individual preferences. The folding design of the Bugout ensures its portability and convenience for users, making it suitable for outdoor adventures or everyday use.

CRKT Drifter

The CRKT Drifter is a popular choice among those seeking a low-cost, durable, and reliable pocket knife. With a stainless steel blade and titanium handle, the Drifter offers users a combination of lightweight practicality and strength. The versatile blade design allows for both slicing and precision work, making the Drifter a favored choice among those seeking quality without breaking the bank.

SOG Twitch II

The SOG Twitch II is a compact and functional pocket knife that balances accessibility, functionality, and affordability. This lightweight model, available in different blade materials such as carbon steels and stainless steels, is designed for ease of use and offers quick and smooth deployment. The Twitch II is a popular choice among those seeking a reliable and convenient tool for everyday carry.

Kershaw Link

The Kershaw Link is a popular American-made pocket knife that boasts a high-quality stainless steel blade and excellent craftsmanship. As a versatile utility knife, the Link offers users a dependable tool for various tasks, while the smooth and easy opening mechanism provides added convenience. The choice between different blade steels, such as carbon, stainless, and tool steels, means there is a Kershaw Link to suit the needs and preferences of any user.

Additional Features and Tools

Switchblades and stilettos.

Switchblades and stilettos are two types of automatic pocket knives, characterized by their quick and easy opening mechanisms. Switchblades typically have a button or lever that releases the blade, while stilettos use a spring mechanism to open the blade with a flick of the wrist. Both types often feature a thumb stud for easy one-handed operation.

One thing to keep in mind is that switchblades and stilettos may be subject to legal restrictions, depending on the jurisdiction you live in. Please check your local laws before purchasing one of these knives.

Swiss Army Knives and Multi-tools

Swiss Army knives and other multi-tools are popular choices for pocket knives because of their versatility and wide range of useful features. These knives often come equipped with various tools in addition to the main blade, such as:

• Scissors : Great for cutting small items like paper and thread.
• Tweezers : Useful for removing splinters or handling small objects.
• Can opener : An essential tool for camping trips and emergency situations.
• Nail file : For maintaining healthy nails and making minor repairs.
• Corkscrew : Perfect for opening wine bottles during a picnic or social gathering.

Some Swiss Army knives and multi-tools also include a keychain attachment, allowing you to easily secure them to your keys or backpack. This makes them readily accessible and ensures you always have a handy tool available when needed.

By considering these additional features and tools, you can make an informed decision when selecting the perfect pocket knife for your needs. Remember to evaluate the overall size and functionality of the knife, as well as any legal restrictions that may apply in your area.

Blade Maintenance and Sharpening

Maintaining your pocket knife’s blade is crucial for its longevity and performance. Regular cleaning, lubrication, and sharpening will ensure your knife remains a reliable tool for various tasks, whether it’s carving, maintaining control, or handling outdoor situations. This section will cover sharpening techniques and choosing the right sharpening tools.

Sharpening Techniques

When sharpening your pocket knife, it’s essential to establish and maintain a consistent angle between the blade and the sharpening tool. Most pocket knives have an angle of 20-30 degrees per side . Here are some techniques to help you sharpen your blade effectively:

• Start with the coarse grit: If your knife is dull, always begin with a coarse grit to sharpen the blade quickly. Gradually work your way to a finer grit for a sharp, polished edge.
• Alternate strokes: Alternate between sharpening each side of the blade to ensure even sharpness, and to avoid unintentionally creating a burr.
• Apply light pressure: Don’t press too hard on the blade while sharpening. Use just enough pressure to maintain contact between the blade and the sharpener.
• Consistent angle: Keeping a consistent angle during sharpening is crucial for achieving the desired sharpness. Use an angle guide if needed.

Choosing the Right Sharpening Tools

There are various tools you can use to maintain your pocket knife’s sharpness. Choosing the right tool will depend on your expertise, budget, and specific requirements. Here’s a list of some basic sharpening tools and their benefits:

• Whetstones: Whetstones are versatile sharpening tools, available in various grits. They can be used for all types of blades, from pocket knives to kitchen knives. Keep the stone wet while sharpening for better results.
• Ceramic rods: These rods are ideal for maintaining and honing an already sharp blade. Ceramic rods are durable and offer a fine grit, perfect for touch-ups.
• Diamond sharpeners: These tools provide fast and efficient sharpening. Diamond sharpeners offer a longer lifespan than other sharpening tools due to their durability.
• Sharpening systems: If you’re seeking precision and consistency, sharpening systems are perfect. They often come with angle guides and various grit options, providing more control over the sharpening process.

Incorporate these techniques and tools to maintain and sharpen your pocket knife’s blade, ensuring it remains a versatile tool for carving, control, and outdoor situations.

Selecting the Ideal Pocket Knife Size

When choosing a pocket knife, it’s important to consider factors such as the knife’s purpose, portability, and convenience. In this section, we will discuss these factors and provide tips for selecting the right pocket knife size for your needs.

Purpose of Use

The first step in selecting the ideal pocket knife size is to determine the intended purpose of the knife.

• For those who use pocket knives for everyday tasks like opening packages or cutting small items, a small to medium-sized knife is suitable. The No.08 is a classic choice with a stainless-steel blade that’s popular in French pocket knives.
• If you need a knife for outdoor activities like camping or hiking, a medium to large-sized knife will be more appropriate. The Benchmade 535 Bugout is a great example with its plain edge blade and lightweight design.
• For more specialized tasks like cutting meat, a partially serrated blade may be necessary. The CRKT Drifter or SOG Twitch II are both suitable options with partially serrated blades and sturdy construction.

Portability and Convenience

The size of a pocket knife directly affects its portability, comfort, and convenience. Here are some factors to consider:

• Weight : Lightweight pocket knives like the Benchmade 535 Bugout or CRKT Drifter provide easier portability and reduced bulk in your pocket.
• Blade Length : Depending on local laws, there may be restrictions on the blade length of pocket knives. Always check regulations in your area before purchasing a knife with a larger blade.
• Opening Mechanism : Some pocket knives feature a flipper opening mechanism for quick and easy access, while others require a more traditional manual opening. Personal preference and situational needs may dictate which type you prefer.
• Locking Mechanism : Different pocket knives have different locking mechanisms. For instance, Case Knives use a slip joint, while Opinel uses a collar lock. Consider which type of lock is most suitable for your needs, as it may affect the knife’s overall size and weight.

In summary, when selecting the ideal pocket knife size, keep in mind the purpose for which it will be used and the features that will provide optimal portability and convenience. By taking these factors into account, you can find the perfect pocket knife to suit your needs.

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Best Pocket Knife of 2024

Since 2014, we've purchased and tested over 45 of the best pocket knives side-by-side, with 21 models in our latest review. Our experts test each knife while exploring backcountry terrain throughout the United States: camping, hunting, and preparing food. But they also carry them for general, everyday tasks. In addition to our in-depth field testing, we compare key characteristics to evaluate important metrics like blade integrity, ergonomics, portability, and construction quality. The combination of real-life use and objective analysis allows us to identify the best knife for your needs and the others that simply don't make the cut.

Like finding the best backpack or the best tent , a dependable pocket knife is essential for any complete backpacking kit . If you're looking for versatile tools for your next hunting or camping adventure , our gear experts have also bought and tested everything from the best multi-tools and top-rated axes to the best fishing rods on the market. We've also done a comprehensive review on the best fire pits for your backyard.

Top 21 Product Ratings

Best overall pocket knife, benchmade mini barrage 585.

• Blade and Edge Integrity 9.0
• Ergonomics 8.0
• Portability 7.0
• Construction Quality 9.0
• Other Features 2.0

Built for precision with a design that has helped it maintain its top status for years, the Benchmade Mini-Barrage 585 has a blade that arrives razor-sharp, and its LifeSharp sharpening service sweetens the deal even further. If you cover shipping costs, Benchmade will even return the edge to factory specifications throughout the knife's life. The handle fits in the palm well, and its rounded edges slide easily into your pocket. The pocket clip is excessively strong yet still modular; you can swap and wear it on either side. An assisted opening system tied into the proprietary Axis lock reliably snaps the blade to ready status and is deployable by either hand. One can also safely lock the blade in the closed position for peace of mind while carrying it in a pocket or purse.

The Mini Barrage is pricey, but its value will be realized over its long lifespan (especially considering the LifeSharp service.) However, we recognize that the initial investment may be too much, particularly if you tend to misplace smaller items like knives. You'll likely notice the slightly down-sized stature of this knife for heavy-duty tasks or during extended use – if you're looking for a larger, heavier-duty knife, we suggest the Kershaw Link . Even if it is a bit on the compact side, the Mini Barrage strikes a nice balance of size, weight, and utility, making it a high-value choice for anyone who needs a high-quality knife.

Read more: Benchmade Mini Barrage 585 review

Best Bang for the Buck

Kershaw leek.

• Blade and Edge Integrity 7.0
• Ergonomics 6.0
• Portability 8.0
• Construction Quality 8.0
• Other Features 0.0

The Kershaw Leek packs a pedigreed blade into a compact, assisted-opening knife that costs roughly half the price of other high-end options. The 14C28N alloy stainless blade steel comes sharp and defect-free from the factory. Like the assisted opening on the Benchmade Mini Barrage , the Leek can be opened with either thumb via the blade studs or via a well-tuned flipper tab along the spine. It is quick to open, impressively well built, and super portable, positioning the Leek as a strong competitor to become your everyday companion.

The Leek is undeniably sleek and beautiful. But while some of our testers appreciated the thin profile for carrying, others really disliked the handle design due to compromises in overall utility. The knife is excellent for light cutting, but we wouldn't trust it for anything heavier-duty. It's not meant for heavy tearing or prying – we even watched the blade deform slightly during testing. For a knife with a similar shape and profile, the CIVIVI Elementum can better stand up to more medium-duty tasks. Still, this beautifully functional knife offers quality steel for a steal.

Read more: Kershaw Leek review

Best Everyday Carry

Benchmade 535 bugout.

• Blade and Edge Integrity 8.0
• Ergonomics 7.0

The Benchmade 535 Bugout is the best knife we know of for self-propelled outdoor adventures . Long-time top manufacturer Benchmade made this knife precisely for carrying in the backcountry. But its lightweight and low profile make it the perfect everyday carry. This smaller knife still sports a top-quality, full-size blade that opens, locks, and closes with a predictable smoothness we have come to expect from the reliable hardware in Benchmade knives.

The lightweight design, however, comes with a few minor concessions. The handle is a tad flexible: it's entirely plastic without an internal skeleton. It's more stable than the weight leads you to believe, but this isn't the tool for intense cutting tasks. Even the compact Benchmade Mini-Barrage 585 holds a slight advantage over the Bugout when it comes to handle ergonomics. However, it's important to recognize that you likely won't encounter the need for extended cutting in your day-to-day life or regular outdoor adventures. Minor criticisms aside, if you want a full-length pocket knife as well-designed for your backcountry kit as it is your pocket, we recommend the Bugout over any other knife in our lineup.

Read more: Benchmade 535 Bugout review

Best Heavy Duty Knife

Kershaw link.

• Portability 5.0

The Kershaw Link features a thick, compound-ground blade of high-quality steel and an ergonomic grip that makes big cutting jobs easier. Whenever we face a daunting task like preparing kindling without an axe – or opening tons of packages of more gear to review – this is the knife we reach for every time. The specific steel alloy used in the blade, CPM 20CV, is known for its stellar hardness and edge retention, so it stays sharp and doesn't bend or flex under pressure. The overall construction is bomber, and the grip feels secure, safe, and ergonomic. This is a top option if you need a knife to carry on the construction job site or just want a large blade for your camping or outdoor kit.

The major downsides to the Link are bulk, weight, and cost all reasonably associated with opting for such a burly knife. The weight of this large, heavy pocket knife is absolutely noticeable in a pocket or backpack. If you are looking for a smaller knife for everyday carry or occasional use, a smaller knife like the Kershaw Leek is likely a better option. Considering the price tag attached to the Link, it is a serious investment, but one that we're sure will pay off in the long run for those who regularly turn to a pocket knife to get the job done.

Read more: Kershaw Link review

Best Knife for Hunting

Havalon piranta original.

• Construction Quality 7.0

Hunters need a darn good reason not to reach for the Havalon Piranta Original . Field dressing and processing anything but the smallest wild game will dull a blade partway through the process. Some bring a sharpening kit, some carry multiple sharpened knives, while others simply forge on with an unsafe, dull blade. Or you can carry the Piranta and a few extra blades, which sounds much easier than any of those other options. This knife's crowning feature is its swappable blade ability: 12 spare scalpel blades pop on and off the blade stud, making it a breeze to swap blades whenever one dulls. While other high-end knife companies like Benchmade offer blade sharpening services, Havalon keeps prices low on their knife and extra accessory blades.

With the Piranta's scalpel-style blades, you can work with a finer edge than any permanent knife blade. However, the interchangeable blades rattle a bit in the blade stud, which can be disconcerting when bearing down on the knife. This isn't the burliest knife we tested, and the narrow handle on this lightweight knife can feel a little less than adequate for tough cutting. The similarly lightweight Benchmade 535 Bugout offers better ergonomics, and although you won't benefit from exchanging for a fresh blade, at least you can have the company rehone back to factory standard when your hunting season is through. There isn't anything quite like working with a factory-honed blade, but for those who don't have that option, the choice is simple: the interchangeable blades of the Piranta change the game of dressing game.

Read more: Havalon Piranta Original review

Best Knife for Climbers

Petzl spatha.

• Blade and Edge Integrity 6.0
• Ergonomics 5.0
• Construction Quality 6.0

The Petzl Spatha is a unique offering in our lineup. Most of the knives we tested are made by traditional knife makers, but Petzl is better known as a climbing company. Their knife, however, is great . It features surprisingly high-quality steel, just like any other knife built by a dedicated knife company. On the other hand, Petzl isn't bound by convention or tradition in other design matters. They built this thing specifically for rock climbing . We like the serrated portion of the blade for cutting rope and webbing but don't particularly like the difficulty of sharpening serrations.

The hinge of the Spatha is unique. It is a wide-diameter hole specifically designed for carabiner attachment that features a ridge-textured ring that makes it easy to deploy the blade while wearing gloves. On the flip side, the huge hinge holds the blade closed with just friction. While our extended testing of this knife has shown no issues, there is a chance that friction degrades with time, which would allow the blade to open inadvertently. Similarly, the primitive "lockback" blade lock is a bit outdated and also prone to degradation. If you're looking for a purpose-built climbing knife to keep on your climbing harness , the Spatha is a fantastic find, but should also be weighed against the arguably more portable Leatherman Skeletool KB .

Read more: Petzl Spatha review

Best Keychain Knife

Victorinox classic sd swiss army.

• Blade and Edge Integrity 4.0
• Ergonomics 3.0
• Portability 9.0
• Construction Quality 5.0
• Other Features 6.0

Significantly more compact than your car's key fob, the Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army is discreet and ready for action. The first pocket knife of many a child for generations, the Classic SD holds up to hours of whittling, prying, and poking. Adults love the Classic for its included grooming tools and compactness, and when called upon, the small blade rises to most occasions. The scissors appear toy-like but can cut things as stout as rock climbing webbing. For lighter tasks like paper or fingernails, they excel.

While we never had issues with the Classic SD's durability, it is, perhaps obviously, not as robust as the heavier-duty knives we tested. Similarly, the tiny blade is a few definite steps down from something seen in full-sized knives, even a particularly compact knife like the Gerber Paraframe Mini . But the magic of the Classic SD is that it's half pocket knife, half multi-tool, and all portability. If you have some room on your keychain for another little piece of equipment, this classic mini Swiss Army knife will find frequent use.

Read more: Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army review

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Why You Should Trust Us

This review started with a thorough combing of the knife market. We considered upwards of 100 models before selecting 21 of the best pocket knives for side-by-side testing . We purchased each one at retail price from the same retailers you would, which helps keep our review free from bias. Each year, we reassess the market, selecting some new options and omitting old ones. We used a combination of controlled tests and general daily use – each model undergoes 21 individual tests across five rating metrics. Daily use ranged from routine tasks like simple food preparation and opening packages to more specialized applications like home improvements and automotive repairs. Controlled tests included cutting materials like rope and webbing, whittling, and even boring holes with the blade's tip. In the end, we conducted more than 350 individual tests to help you find the perfect knife to match your needs and budget.

• Blade and Edge Integrity (30% of overall score rating)
• Ergonomics (20% of overall score)
• Portability (20% of overall score)
• Construction Quality (20% of overall score)
• Other Features (10% of overall score)

Aside from testing gear, Review Editor Kyle Hameister's main thing is product design. From building prototypes in his shop in Colorado to (sometimes literally) running around on product installs, his day-to-day is wonderfully diverse, and a well-chosen pocket knife is a necessary tool of the trade. As our resident knife expert, Kyle also leads up testing our top-rated multi-tools. He builds upon the the testing experience of Senior Review Editors Jediah Porter and Jeff Dobronyi who both work as certified IFMGA/American Mountain Guides . Professional mountain guiding changes with the seasons: backcountry skiing and ice climbing during the winter, ski mountaineering in the spring, alpine climbing in the summer, and rock climbing in the fall. This variable line of work requires having the right tool for the job, which always includes a solid pocket knife. During his decade-long tenure of testing pocket knives, Jed claims hands-on experience with over 40 different knives.

Analysis and Test Results

The pocket knife landscape is incredibly broad. There are knives with single-digit prices, or you could spend five digits and more on a collectible-grade knife. We focus on the huge middle of this range. We omit unbranded, "knock-off" knives from convenience stores, souvenir shops, promotional retailers, and the deeper corners of internet retail. At the other end of the spectrum, we omit connoisseur and collector products from boutique direct sellers and custom makers.

Our test lineup includes knives that fold for easy carry, have blades between 1 and 4 inches in length, are commonly available at various retail outlets, and are optimized for daily or outdoor carry. We put a slight focus on human-powered outdoor adventure pursuits. We also comment extensively on a knife's utility in day-to-day life.

Price and quality can vary, even within this range of products. Your purchase price, generally, should correlate with how much you plan on using your knife. If you use it hours a day for decades, spending more will get you better steel material for the blade and hinges. You'll also get locking mechanisms that last longer and carry options that blend seamlessly with your life. Less expensive options will probably be a better value for more occasional use or those prone to misplacing smaller possessions. But when it comes down to it, the best value is a representation of price versus performance .

You're probably interested in the top-scoring Benchmade Mini-Barrage (and why wouldn't you be?) But if you can't stomach the up-front cost, even a much more affordable knife like the Gerber Fast Draw - Plain Edge offers a surprisingly similar design, albeit at a lower grade of blade and handle quality. The Kershaw Leek is still pretty spendy for many folks, but the steel quality, portability, and stellar assist-open function push it to compete with options well above its price range. For specialty uses, like hunting the Havalon Piranta presents a unique value, considering that it is the only knife in our selection that offers interchangeable blades. And if you're looking to buy someone their very first pocket knife, it's tough to beat the value of the ultra-classic Victorinox Classic Swiss Army knife.

Blade and Edge Integrity

More or less, we're talking about sharpness in this metric. There isn't a consumer choice more perplexing than the sharpness of a knife. You might just want to know, "is this knife sharp?" Unfortunately, it isn't that easy. Sharpness, at any point, is a function of the raw materials, material treatment, knife geometry, and blade maintenance. These things balance to deliver actual performance and sharpness .

First of all, you must resharpen every knife after some amount of regular use. Different materials and designs will hold a sharp edge longer, but all will eventually need some TLC. There are professional knife sharpening services and many commercially available sharpening kits for home use. Or, you could go with a Benchmade knife like the Mini Barrage or Bugout , both of which are covered by the company's "LifeSharp" program. All you have to do is cover shipping, and they'll sharpen these premium knives for the life of the product.

The process of designing a blade starts with the raw material. All of our reviewed knives have blades made of some variety of steel. Steel is a metal made mainly of iron. The iron is mixed ("alloyed") with small amounts of carbon and often other elements, with endless possible variations. Steel for a knife must be hard enough to resist the abrasion and deflection of the material it is cutting. However, it must also be soft enough to deflect (rather than break or crack) at least slightly in the face of significant forces and to respond to commonly available sharpening methods. Too hard, and the brittle steel would be nearly impossible to sharpen. Too soft, and the steel will lose its edge rapidly. It must resist corrosion in the face of a wide array of commonly encountered substances, and water alone is a common corrosive agent that must be protected against.

There is a dizzying array of steel types . We're slowly seeing more and more knives – and not just the ones with premium price tags – move past the longtime standards of blade steel. High-end alloys like "154cm" and "S30V" are popular on Benchmade offerings. The S35VN steel of the Zero Tolerance 0450 Sinkevich Carbon Fiber and The James Brand the Chapter is truly a world-class metal. Few knives in any setting have better steel than S35VN. The 20CV steel used in the Kershaw Link's blade is also top-notch, engineered specifically for its hardness and edge retention.

The decent knife steel is inexpensive enough that all branded knives (but not truck stop or flea market knives) are made with good enough metal. Most manufacturers of high-quality knives advertise the type of steel they use. It is a general assumption, but we've found that it is pretty safe to say that if the manufacturer is willing to tell you what the blade steel is, that steel will suffice. The opposite is often true, too; if the actual materials aren't listed, it is probably really, really poor stuff. The steel hardening method is just as important as the raw material. Once a manufacturer chooses the steel for a knife, it is shaped and then hardened in some variation of a heating-and-cooling process.

Various types of hardening result in different characteristics. The steel's edge-holding qualities are well established after hardening — provided the blade isn't exposed to enough heat to reverse (or even further) the hardening process. We especially like budget knives produced by companies that also make high-end knives. A company like this might downgrade the steel to hit a price point, but it doesn't make sense to tool up an independent heat treatment infrastructure.

Once a blade is shaped and hardened, the cutting-edge receives its final grind and can be tuned for optimum performance for different tasks. The blade of the hybrid tactical Kershaw Blur Glassbreaker is also sharpened to a steeper angle. On the other hand, the Victorinox Classic SD's tiny blade starts thin and is sharpened thinner, making for a very sharp yet fragile edge. The CRKT Drifter , Opinel No. 8 , Benchmade Bugout , and Petzl Spatha are similarly slender. Modern knives like the Spyderco Tenacious G-10 and the Benchmade Mini-Barrage have blade geometry that splits the difference between the above extremes. This middle-of-the-road blade geometry is, predictably, versatile and functional. The procedures, facets, and angles used to finish an edge further influence the blade's initial sharpness and edge-holding ability.

The Piranta's interchangeable blade is the thinnest – with the lowest edge angle – of any knife we test here. They can do this because it doesn't need to be resharpened at home, and if it breaks in use, you can just slide on a new one.

As with steel hardness, there is no single perfect edge finish. Too narrow of an angle, and the blade's leading edge is too thin to resist deflection and dulling, while too steep of an angle on that leading edge doesn't feel nearly as sharp in actual use. Rest assured that knife manufacturers have this largely figured out. Follow their instructions for proper care, and your knife should serve you for years and years. You probably don't need this review if you know edge angles better than the knife manufacturer.

In summary, knife sharpness is a function of a wide array of variables. A user's long-term experience with the pocket knife depends as much on its maintenance as it does on the materials and initial manufacturing. The pocket knives we tested demonstrate more-than-adequate edge integrity and sharpness, as the manufacturer has balanced numerous conflicting criteria at every step in the process.

All the knives we tested have some type of drop-point or clip-point shaped blades. There are many common blade shapes . Some are more general, and some are quite specific. These two are the most versatile blade shapes, similar but subtly different.

Note that many blades in our test and elsewhere can be straight or serrated. Serrated blades cut tough materials more efficiently, especially rope and webbing, while straight edge blades are easier to sharpen. The GearLab team generally prefers straight edge blades. Hybrid blades, partially straight and partially serrated, can address various needs and also absolutely be the worst of all worlds. The one setting in which we approve of serrated blades or hybrid blades is for climbing use . The Petzl Spatha has a hybrid blade, which we appreciate on that tool. Use and sharpen the straight portion regularly and save the serrated portion for tougher tasks like cutting carpet or rope.

Regardless of the blade shape or sharpness, heavy cutting requires a sturdy handle that doesn't pinch or pressure the user's hand. In many ways, portability and ergonomics are direct competitors, so it can be important to understand the build of a knife . The most ergonomic knife has an elongated rounded-profile handle that fills a loosely clenched fist, while the most portable knife is the smallest and thinnest. Our scoring reflects that tradeoff. The most user-friendly knives were the least portable, and vice versa. It is up to you to evaluate your needs and choose a blade that strikes the balance you seek. The tool needs to be easy to open and smooth to deploy and stow. The locking mechanisms should be intuitive and straightforward, and one-handed blade deployment is best.

So-called "assisted opening knives" are even easier to use. In most cases, we prefer the assisted opening blades of knives like the Mini Barrage and two Kershaw products, among others. Backcountry use might be the one exception to our preference for the assisted-opening function. More accurately, we recommend that if you intend to carry your knife extensively somewhere other than clipped to your pants pocket, steer clear of an assisted opening function. An assisted opening knife is more likely to come open inadvertently in any setting unless you deploy its lock-closed function. But doing so, of course, negates any of the convenience of assisted opening. Clipped to the edge of your pants pocket, the likelihood of an accidental opening is very low. In that very common carry mode, we can't think of a reason not to choose an assisted opening knife. If, on the other hand, it will float around extensively in your favorite backpacking backpack , an assisted opening function is more of a liability than it is worth.

The assisted opening function requires at least a bit of a learning curve. For instance, deploying an assisted opening blade is best done with one hand. Opening one with one hand is easier than opening the same knife with two hands. Further, some prefer that their assisted opening knife be equipped with a locking mechanism. Most have this, but not all. The only assisted opening knife we tested that doesn't lock closed is the Kershaw Blur .

Local Laws & Regulations

The clip is ideally oriented for pocket-clipped knives so that the tool can be pulled from the pocket and thumbed open without regripping. This tip-up carry is the fastest to deploy. The Benchmade and Zero Tolerance knives are made this way and can be arranged to work that way in either the left or right pocket. Why other manufacturers do not employ this simple strategy is mystifying. The only reasonable argument against tip-up pocket carry is that the blade can be more likely to fall open in your pocket with gravity. An open or, worse yet, partially open knife in your pocket is terrifying but unlikely. We have never, ever , had this happen. The Spyderco Tenacious G-10 and Delica 4 both all have a pocket clip that can be manipulated to hang in your pocket in one of four different configurations: tip-up or down and left or right thumb activation. This attribute alone can favor a Spyderco model for those unclear about how they wish to carry their blade or can't find a knife to match their preference.

The Classic SD is the only knife in this lineup that has multiple tools. While you can't open any of the features with one hand, you should be able to engage them with even the most closely trimmed fingernails. The Opinel No. 8 also opens with a fingernail slot. All other knives have some form of one-handed opening.

One-handed opening options include a thumb stud, thumb hole, and index finger pull. All have their pros and cons. A thumb stud is the easiest to work with but adds bulk and protrusions that can snag. Also, two thumb studs need to be affixed to the blade for ambidexterity. A thumbhole, as on the Delica 4 and Petzl Spatha , is inherently ambidextrous and removes material and weight from the blade. It is just a little less ergonomic to deploy. The Spatha opens with an ambidextrous thumbhole or a unique ribbed ring inside the hinge, with gloved or bare hands. The Leatherman Skeletool KB is the only knife we have tested that has a one-handed opening but is not ambidextrous. Its thumb hole is only accessible from one side. Right-handers will have no problem with it. Lefties will have to adjust. Finally, the finger flick opening is unique, inherently ambidextrous, and a little less intuitive than the others. Find a finger-flick opening on the Zero Tolerance and as an option on the Kershaw Leek .

The Opinel No. 8 has unique ergonomics. The wooden handle, nearly perfectly round, feels nice in hand, and is more than adequate for light-duty tasks like cutting food. A more oval-shaped handle profile, like that of the Benchmade 15031-2 North Fork , is preferred for more substantial use, like extended whittling or cutting of rope and webbing. We also love the grip shape of the Kershaw Link , which is perfectly shaped to fit the user's hand for comfortable all-day use.

The diminutive James Brand knife has a simple design that opens with one hand. The user's thumb is a little vulnerable to cutting on the blade while opening due to a slightly sticky blade and the overall dimensions. Users learned to deal with this concern, but our test team had some trouble while riding the learning curve.

With a somewhat outdated shape, the Spyderco Delica 4 is a long-time player on the market. The handle is narrower than ideal, while the wide blade sticks out and takes up pocket space. The wide blade accommodates the thumbhole, which assists in opening the blade. While this is a convenient and ergonomically friendly way to open the knife, it feels more substantial than necessary in our pockets.

Portability

A pocket knife is only as good as it is handy. Will it be there for you when you need it? You will probably leave a knife that is too bulky or heavy at home from time to time. Small knives floating around in a glove box or crowded jeans pocket will be too time-consuming to dig out. The most portable knives in our test were either relatively small and equipped to hang on a keychain easily or had a low profile and a tight pocket clip that was, or could be, configured in the user's ideal arrangement.

The Victorinox Classic SD is the most portable knife we have tested and stands out for its tiny stature while weighing under a single ounce. The Spyderco Tenacious is bulky and cumbersome in comparison. However, bulk and weight can be justified by some in these cases for their function and versatility.

With both large and small knives in the review, the middle of the line Benchmade Mini Barrage is our overall favorite. For most users, the size is manageable while still being functional. The Benchmade Bugout has a blade similar in size to that of these mid-sized options but is much lighter than them all. The SOG Twitch II has a similarly small stature for everyday carry, with a reliable blade.

The Gerber Paraframe Mini lives up to its name, with a very similar design to the Kershaw Leek but nearly half the weight. Both are equally thin and easy to carry in a pocket, but the Leek is nearly two inches longer than the Paraframe Mini. The Skeletool KB is relatively small. Further, its handle is disproportionately small compared to its blade.

Construction Quality

The manufacturing quality of everything but the blade varied far more than the blade's quality in the models we tested. Our evaluation of these knives' construction quality was mainly subjective but equally applied across the board. Does it feel sturdy and confidence-inspiring? When this assessment came up short for a given pocket knife, it inevitably followed that some aspect of the knife's mechanical function would act finicky.

Handle, hinges, and locking mechanisms revealed the attention paid to detail. Sturdy parts and materials, tight design, close manufacturing tolerances, and carefully thought-out construction stood out immediately and only increased how much we noticed as time and usage wore on. Overall, construction quality was adequate, with no outright failures or breakages during testing.

Locking mechanisms are the best window to construction quality. Well-made knives like Kershaw's Leek and Link open and close smoothly every time. Some less expensive options cut just fine, but the locking mechanism can be difficult to disengage.

It is generally more difficult to optimize construction quality with a small knife. The miniaturized components don't leave much room for error. A testament to our high selection standards, the small knives we test are better than average for their size. The Classic SD seems to escape some of the other small knives' issues — all its components work well and smoothly. None of the features on the Classic lock, which likely saves some hassle. The Skeletool KB is right in here, too; small but well made.

The Opinel No. 8 has a unique construction. With only five parts (handle, blade, hinge pin, and two collars that serve as the locking mechanism), it's super simple, and its overall build is very clean. The result is light and reliable but a little uninspiring. Opening and locking require two hands.

Other Features

In our test, only the Victorinox Classic SD , Leatherman Skeletool KB , Kershaw Blur , and Albatross EDC Tactical have functions besides a primary blade.

Tactical knives are designed for rescue usage. Paramedics and firefighters use the stout blade, seatbelt cutter, and glass-breaking punch. The rest of us may fear the need to cut our seatbelts and bash through the window of our car, but we'll probably tire of carrying such a burly pocket knife long before using these features. The Kershaw Blur is a hybrid tactical knife with just a hardened and pointed glass breaker, and the EDC Tactical has both a seatbelt cutter and a glass breaker.

The tiny Classic Swiss Army knife packs a versatile punch in a small package. The combination of little tools on this knife could be almost perfect for the day-to-day user. From office tasks to personal grooming to light home maintenance, the Classic SD's simple features will get the owner through most of life's challenges.

The only additional feature on the Skeletool KB is a bottle opener. The bottle opener is sufficient but slightly more fiddly than your typical opener. It works just fine for the first few drinks of your evening.

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Table of contents

7 Best Pocket Knives of 2024

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A trusty pocket knife is handy for both the every day and the unexpected. Whether you need a quick blade while on trail, a handy way to open packaging, or have to act fast in an emergency, you’ll feel confident knowing you’re equipped with a reliable knife.

Our team has tested over 30 pocket knives in real-world situations to determine the best of the best. Accounting for price, size, sharpness and ergonomics, we’re confident you’ll find the best new pocket knife that will compliment your lifestyle and needs.

If you want more than just a single blade, you’ll find what you’re looking for in our  review of the best multi-tools . We’ve also  tested the top first-aid kits  so you can be prepared for the unexpected, and we’ve also carefully reviewed  GPS watches  when the trail ahead becomes a little less clear.

Quick Picks for Pocket Knives

Check out this quick list of our favorites if you’re in a hurry, or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews.

Best pocket knife overall:  Kershaw Leek ($84.99)

Best ultralight pocket knife:  Benchmade Bugout 535 ($171)  &  Mini Bugout 533 ($162)

Best budget pocket knife:  Opinel No. 8 ($19)  &  No. 6 ($16)  (smaller)

Best premium pocket knife:  Spyderco Para Military 2 ($288)

Workhorse pocket knife with an ergonomic handle:  Kershaw Blur ($72.70)

Small, stout & affordable pocket knife:  CRKT Squid ($39.99)

Small & quick-opening pocket knife:  SOG Twitch II

Durable & affordable pocket knife:  Paraframe Mini ($17)

The Clever Hiker team has been whittling, chopping, and splicing with some of the sharpest new pocket knives to hit the market, and comparing them against our long-time favorites. As a result, this list has seen some major changes:

• The Kershaw Leek leads the pack as a sharp, easy-to use blade with a durable and sleek profile that can be opened with one hand.
• We’ve added the Benchmade Bugout 535 , a very lightweight steel workhorse with a slim handle and comes with a deep pocket carry clip.
• The  Opinel No. 8 rounds out our top 3 as one of the most budget-friendly and gorgeous knives on this list, featuring a wooden handle that makes for a lightweight and tough blade for any situation.

• Kershaw Leek

Best pocket knife overall

Price: $155

Weight: 3 oz.

Blade Length / Closed Lenght: 3 in. / 4 in.

Mini Version: n/a

• Slim and compact
• Assisted one-hand open
• Reversible pocket clip
• Blade tip is a bit thin for rugged jobs

Whether you’re a knife enthusiast or a novice, the  Kershaw Leek  has an excellent chance of becoming your favorite knife: it’s tough to beat when it comes to an ultra-portable, high-quality knife at an outstanding price point. The parts are fit with expert precision for a svelte knife that practically disappears in the pocket. The razor-sharp blade and dramatic point are ideal for slicing, piercing, and fine detail work. To top it all off, this knife springs fully open and into a locked position with a pull from a single finger. If you want a beautiful and capable knife you’ll be inspired to use frequently, look no further than the Leek.

• Benchmade Bugout 535

Best ultralight pocket knife

Price: $180

Weight: 1.9 oz.

Blade Length / Closed Lenght: 3.24 in. / 4.22 in.

Mini Version: Mini Bugout 533

• Very lightweight
• Premium steel quality
• Lock keeps fingers clear when closing
• Inconsipicuous (deep pocket carry clip)
• Handle is a bit long

The  Benchmade Bugout 535 is one of our all-time favorite pocket knives since it’s both exceptionally lightweight and has a very sharp blade made with premium steel. The marriage of such high-quality blade steel and a slim, ultralight handle is perfect for everyday carry and anyone who wants to keep weight to an absolute minimum. Our only complaint is the handle is a bit long, making the knife a bit more bulky for storage, but we’re splitting hairs – the longer handle offers more control and precision. If you’re looking for a knife that’s incredibly sharp, light in the pocket, and easy to wield, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Bugout.

• Opinel No. 8

Best budget pocket knife

Weight: 1.5 oz.

Blade Length / Closed Lenght: 3.25 in. / 4.25 in.

Mini Version: No. 6

• Very affordable
• Secure collar lock
• Comfortable handle
• Inconspicuous
• Customizable engraving available
• Not as sharp as some
• Slower two-handed open (nail nick and collar lock)
• No pocket clip

The  Opinel No. 8  is an affordable, utilitarian knife that was originally designed for farmers and railroad workers over 130 year ago. It’s the lightest knife we tested, so it’s extremely portable and well-suited for on-the-go activities like hiking, foraging, picnics, and working in the garden. The No. 8’s carbon steel blade isn’t as sharp as those on some modern knives, but it’s really tough for how thin it is and it’s excellent for slicing meats, cheeses, and produce. The No. 8 may take slightly longer to open and lock, but it’s a beautiful knife at an incredible value that feels like a connection to a simpler time.

• Spyderco Para Military 2

Best premium pocket knife

Price: $265

Weight: 3.9 oz.

Blade Length / Closed Lenght: 3.42 in. / 4.82 in.

• Large hole for easy one-handed open
• Excellent grip
• Ergonomic handle
• Four position pocket clip
• Unique blade shape
• Heavier and bulkier than some
• Size isn't inconspicuous

The  Spyderco Para Military 2 is considered a staple among knife collectors, and for good reason. It’s a high-quality knife with thick, premium blade steel, burly steel liners, and a strong compression lock. When it comes to a hefty, burly knife that transitions easily from precision woodworking to opening packages, this knife is a beast in every sense. The PM2 also has a large hole on the blade to make it easy to open with one hand and an ergonomic handle with great texture for grip. The downside of the PM2 — it’s a whole lot of knife. Meaning, it may be a bit overkill for the everyday needs of some people. That said, the PM2 is an incredibly cool, rugged knife. If the zombie apocalypse comes, it’s the pocket knife we’ll grab first.

• Kershaw Blur

Workhorse pocket knife with an ergonomic handle

Price: $160

Blade Length / Closed Lenght: 3.4 in / 4.5 in

• Large blade
• Ergonomic thumb studs
• Havier and bulkier than some

The  Kershaw Blur  is a big, sturdy pocket knife with a wide blade that’s excellent for carving and cutting with minimal effort. The handle is comfortable and has unique rubberized inserts for outstanding grip. We love the smooth action on the Blur too. It’s easy to operate with a single hand and quick to put away when you’re done. Because it’s so strong and easy to handle, the Blur is a great choice for anyone who needs a large blade they can count on for years of daily use.

Small, stout, & affordable pocket knife

Weight: 3.5 oz.

Blade Length / Closed Lenght: 2.16 in. / 3.48 in.

• Durable (extra corrosion-resistant steel)
• Inconspicuous (deep pocket carry clip)
• Sleek, simple profile
• Thick blade
• Tough to open with one hand
• Slightly heavy for its size

We think of the  CRKT Squid as the bulldog of pocket knives. It’s extremely tough for such a little guy and has a short, stout blade made with high-quality steel that will last for years, if not decades. The Squid may feel a bit small in hand for some, but we haven’t come across any jobs that it couldn’t tackle. It’s an excellent box cutter and rips through tough materials like butter. The Squid’s small size also means it stays out of the way of keys and other objects in your pocket. If you’re looking for a high-quality, yet affordable knife – this one is a Budget Buy because at $32, the value can’t be beat – the Squid is very well made and is a joy to use, even if the blade is a bit short.

• SOG Twitch II

Small & quick-opening pocket knife

Weight: 2.6 oz.

Blade Length / Closed Lenght: 2.65 in. / 3.55 in.

• Safety lock
• Takes two hands to close

If you want an inconspicuous pocket knife that’s sharp, fast to deploy, and comfortable to carry, the  SOG Twitch II  might be your jam. It’s very small and compact, so you can barely feel it in your pocket. The Twitch has assisted open, so it’s fun to unfold, and it works well when you need to use your blade frequently. Our one gripe is that the lockback locking mechanism takes two hands and requires a change of grip. That said, the Twitch is a high-quality knife for the price and an excellent choice for anyone who needs a small knife for everyday carry.

• Gerber Paraframe II

Durable & affordable pocket knife

Weight: 4.1 oz.

Blade Length / Closed Lenght: 3.5 in. / 4.75 in.

Mini Version: Paraframe Mini

• Slim design
• Durable (all-steel construction)
• Open design is easy to clean
• Mediocre blade quality
• Thumb studs are a bit long

The  Gerber Paraframe II  looks cool and is easy to clean due to its open all-steel frame, but it’s not a knife you buy to admire or collect. It’s an affordable tool you can put to hard use without having to worry about messing it up, which can be a real asset while camping or on the job. The Paraframe has a sturdy barebones design, and it’s really slim for a knife with such a thick blade. The  Paraframe Mini  is significantly lighter, and is a good budget option for times when weight savings is important. The Paraframe stands out for it’s budget-friendly price, simplicity, and durability.

What’s Most Important to You in a Pocket Knife?

Great quality is often worth paying for when it comes to a high-quality knife you’ll use every day, from backyard to backcountry. That said, you don’t have to pay a lot for an effective and versatile blade that’s also built to last. We’ve found outstanding knives in every price brackets.

Best budget pocket knives

Best value pocket knives

Best high-end pocket knives

The best pocket knives for everyday carry are compact enough to be comfortably stashed in a pocket without feeling bulky or getting in the way. But, the longer the blade, the more leverage you’ll have when working with your knife. We prefer knives in the 3-4 inch blade range because they offer a solid balance of cutting power and portability for most situations.

Best small pocket knives

• Benchmade Mini Bugout 533
• Opinel No. 6
• Gerber Paraframe Mini

Best mid-size pocket knives

Best large pocket knives

OPENING STYLE

If you know you’ll be using your knife a lot throughout the day, make sure it’s easy to grab and quick to deploy. A few knives on our list have spring-assisted opening and can be quickly opened and closed with a single hand, although they have more parts that can fail. Others are manual and may require two hands – they have fewer moving parts that can fail and are less likely to accidentally open.

Assisted open pocket knives

Manual open pocket knives

• CRKT Squid  

A SHARP BLADE

Stainless steel blades are the most common in pocket knives. They’re corrosion resistant and low maintenance, which means they’ll stay sharp for a long time. Knives with premium steel blades tend to be more expensive, but they’re sharper, more finely-tuned, and hold their edge for longer.

Sharpest knives with best quality steel

A great knife is more than just a good sharp blade. The handle plays a big role in how effective a knife, how easy it is to hold and grip, and how comfortable it is to use for an extended period.

Knives with the most ergonomic handles

Knives with the best grip

THE SPYDERCO PARA MILITARY 2 IS A HANDSOME & CAPABLE POCKET KNIFE THAT CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD

THE BENCHMADE BUGOUT 535 IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR ACTIVITIES LIKE HIKING & BACKPACKING, WHEN SIZE AND WEIGHT MATTER

THE KERSHAW LEEK IS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR MOST TASKS AND FITS COMFORTABLY IN A POCKET

THE CRKT SQUID MAY BE A SHORTY, BUT IT’S BLADE IS SUPER SHARP & HIGH QUALITY FOR THE PRICE

WE LOVE THE KERSHAW BLUR BECAUSE IT’S EASY TO OPEN, IT HAS AN ERGONOMIC, GRIPPY HANDLE, & IT’S A GREAT VALUE FOR THE PRICE

YOU CAN’T BEAT THE AFFORDABILITY & LOW WEIGHT OF THE OPINEL NO. 8 POCKET KNIFE FOR BASIC CUTTING TASKS

Critical Pocket Knife Considerations

A good pocket knife will certainly come in handy in all kinds of unexpected situations, but consider what you intend to use your knife for most often. If you see yourself sawing through rope or skinning rabbits, you may want to consider a more specialized blade made for climbing or bushcraft. On this list, we focus mostly on well-rounded pocket knives for everyday carry, whether you’re pulling weeds in the garden, repairing gear before a day hike, or starting a fire in the backcountry.

SERRATED VS. PLAIN EDGE

Serrations are handy for sawing through rope when a knife is dull, but they’re nearly impossible to sharpen at home and eat up valuable real estate on your blade. That’s why we prefer a simple plain edge. If you keep it sharp, it will almost always perform better and be more versatile than a serrated one.

A sturdy lock mechanism on your knife makes them  safer to use  during rigorous cutting tasks. All of the knives on our list are equipped with strong frame, liner, compression, or collar locks to keep the blade safe and securely fixed in position when open.

SIZE AND WEIGHT

A pocket knife should be compact and light enough that it won’t bother you to carry it in your pocket, but large and robust enough to fit comfortably in your palm and be effective for the task at hand. A good ballpark range for an everyday carry knife size is about 4 inches long when closed and no more than about 4 oz. in weight.

BLADE SHAPE

The knives on our list are equipped with a range of blade shapes, but most are some form of the classic drop-point, which offers excellent versatility for various cutting and slicing tasks. To learn more, check out this  Knife Blade Shapes Guide .

BLADE STEEL

There’s a lot to learn about knife blade steel, but the basics come down to these five elements: hardness, toughness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and edge retention. All of these factors play into a knife’s cutting performance and ease of maintenance. Check out the  Essential Guide to Knife Steel  if you want to know more about a specific blade.

HANDLE MATERIALS

The handle is an important part of the pocket knife equation: too heavy and bulky, the knife is cumbersome, but too light and flimsy, the knife will feel weak. The best knives have handles that are ergonomic, comfortable, grippy, and durable. G-10, a type of laminate commonly used in knife handles, is a good all-around material for its light weight and texture, but you might prefer materials like anodized aluminum or wood.

Once you’ve gone over the considerations above, you can narrow your search to knives that appeal to you aesthetically and fit your style. You might want a tough-looking tactical blade, a sleek knife that won’t scare people at the office, or a traditional, old school design.

POCKET CLIP

Most people carry their knives in their pants pockets. The knife should rest inside the pocket with the closed blade flush with the front or back seam so you can grab the knife easily and prevent the blade from accidentally falling open. Some knives have pre-drilled holes so you can choose the position that suits you best. If you prefer to be inconspicuous and not draw attention to the fact that you’re carrying a knife, look for a deep carry pocket clip that keeps the blade hidden – some knives include this.

Honorable Mentions

The following pocket knives didn’t make our final list, but they’ve still got a lot of good things going for them. You never know, one of these knives might be perfect for you:

ULA Alpha Knife – A ridiculously lightweight fixed blade knife that was designed specifically for backpackers and thru-hikers doing everyday trail activities like food prep and opening packaging. Read our  full review here.

Gerber Sharkbelly – Affordable, slim, and lightweight pocket knife with a large sheepsfoot blade and great pocket clip

CRKT Razelcliffe – Stout and budget-friendly mini knife with an easy open hammer and a unique chizel-like blade shape

Milwaukee Fastback Utility Knife – Affordable folding box cutter with disposable blades

Why trust us?

We fully understand how tough it is to find trustworthy gear advice, and that’s one of the main reasons we built CleverHiker. We live for outdoor adventure, and we take these guides very seriously. Here are some of the reasons you can trust us:

• Our choices are completely independent and based on personal experience.
• We’ve logged over 10,000 trail miles and test outdoor gear for a living.
• We own and field test every product we recommend, which is sadly not the norm.
• We travel to industry trade shows to learn about upcoming product innovations.
• We constantly update our guides when new products launch.
• We treat our recommendations as if they were for our family and friends.
• We’re lifelong learners and we’re always open to constructive criticism. If you think we’ve missed a product or got something wrong, we’d love to hear your feedback.

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The Best Pocket Knife

The more you carry around a pocket knife, the more uses you’ll find for it. Everything from opening delivery boxes to fishing little objects out from between floorboards can be accomplished without having to search around for a specific tool.

After researching pocket knives for over 60 hours and talking to two people who have reviewed at least 450 knives between them, we tested nearly 30 knives—by slicing up 20 cardboard boxes and peeling 30 apples—and found that the Columbia River Knife and Tool Drifter is the best knife for most people to carry every day.

Everything we recommend

CRKT Drifter

The best knife for everyday carry.

The Drifter offers a compact size and a butter-smooth blade deployment. The grip area works with all hand sizes and remains comfortable even during tough cutting.

Buying Options

May be out of stock

Blue Ridge Knives ESEE Zancudo

A little larger and more heavy-duty.

The robust metal build of the Zancudo, combined with the excellent ergonomics, makes this the knife of choice for tougher work.

Budget pick

Sanrenmu 710

Solid quality, very inexpensive.

The 710 has many of the same high-quality touches as our main pick, but the all-metal body can be slippery. Often available for around $20, it’s a steal.

Upgrade pick

Benchmade Mini Griptilian

A luxury knife.

The Mini Griptilian has a steep price tag, but it’s better than the others by nearly every measure. The distinctive blade-locking system and movable pocket clip make this knife fully ambidextrous.

Buck Knives 55

For a traditional style.

The 55 has none of the modern convenience features of the other knives we tried, but it does have a timeless feel, a comfortable handle, and a durable build quality.

The CRKT Drifter shares the two basic characteristics of most of the knives we tested: The blade is about 3 inches long, and you can open and close it with one hand. On paper, the Drifter offers nothing unique, but it excels at all of the small elements that make for a successful knife. The most impressive of these is the smoothness of the blade’s pivoting action, which is among the nicest we tested and on a par with that of knives costing four times as much. The Drifter’s handle is contoured to fit both big and small hands, and it has a light texturing that improves the grip. This model has excellent fit and finish, and it doesn’t have a cheap plastic feel like many of the knives in its price range—usually costing around $30, it’s a bargain.

If the Drifter isn’t available or if you’re looking for a real workhorse of a knife, we also like the Blue Ridge Knives ESEE Zancudo . 1 Compared with the Drifter, the Zancudo has a larger handle, a stronger blade lock, and a lot more metal in the body. Those features, as well as the unusual and comfortable teardrop-shaped handle, make this model a great knife for tougher work and more aggressive cutting. We think that this added durability and performance are unnecessary for standard everyday use, and that the Drifter, with its adequate strength, lighter weight, and smaller footprint, is the better option for most. Still, in our tests the Zancudo was our choice for tougher jobs, such as when we headed into a DIY project.

If you’re new to knives and want to make the smallest investment possible to see if you like carrying one, we like the Sanrenmu 710 (aka 7010) . It’s similar in a lot of ways to our main pick—it has roughly the same size and the blade pivot is almost as smooth. But the all-metal handle is less comfortable and can become slippery in damp or sweaty hands; we noticed this problem when holding the knife and when flipping the blade out. The good news is that the 710 is typically sold for around $20. This pricing is impressive seeing as the overall quality in our tests was better than that of many of the $30 to $50 knives we tried.

If you have a larger budget and want a knife that nails all of the little details, we recommend the Benchmade Mini Griptilian . Compared with our other picks, it’s simply a better knife—better pivot, better blade steel, better ergonomics, and better locking system. Because of the lock and the reversible pocket clip, this model is a fully ambidextrous knife. We believe that most people will be more than satisfied with the CRKT Drifter, but if you take good care of your knives and want one with premium touches, the Mini Griptilian is a great investment.

We also tested two traditional knives, and if you prefer a more classic look and style, we recommend the Buck Knives 55 . Its design has an unquestionably age-old feel, but that comes at the expense of more modern touches such as a pocket clip, a one-handed open and close, and a textured handle. Still, the Buck Knives 55 has a very sturdy body and nice overall construction, which is evident in how the lock snaps open and closed. To us, the biggest drawback is that you need two hands to open and close this blade, but if you’re okay with that, this Buck model is a fine choice.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked, how we tested, our pick: crkt drifter, flaws but not dealbreakers, runner-up: blue ridge esee zancudo, budget pick: sanrenmu 710 (7010), upgrade pick: benchmade mini griptilian, also great: buck knives 55, the competition.

To learn more about pocket knives, we turned to two prominent blade reviewers, conversing with both via email. Dan Jackson of BladeReviews.com has been running his site and reviewing knives since 2010. In that time, he has reviewed “a couple hundred” knives ranging in price from a few dollars all the way to $800. We also corresponded with Tony Sculimbrene of  Everyday Commentary , who has been reviewing blades since 2011; he told us he has personally reviewed “probably more than 250 knives” and handled at least a thousand. He also writes about knives and other EDC gear for AllOutdoor.com , GearJunkie , and Everyday Carry . To round out our knowledge, we also spent hours combing through knife-enthusiast forums such as BladeForums.com,  knife retailer websites, and YouTube knife reviews.

I’ve also been a daily knife carrier for nearly 25 years. I spent 10 of those years in the construction industry, in work that entailed heavy daily knife usage. My knife experience also extends into woodcarving, which I do as a hobby.

At its most basic, an everyday carry (EDC) knife is a practical tool that helps you tackle small, routine problems. To fit comfortably in a pocket, it should be a relatively compact knife. It won’t bushwhack a trail, but it will spare you countless trips to the kitchen drawer to get something to break down the recycling or open a package. While you can easily spend over $100 on a quality knife, and it can be well worth that price, for this guide we focused mostly on entry-level knives that you can get for less than $50, so that you can try out the utility of an EDC knife without breaking the bank.

Blade reviewer Tony Sculimbrene told us that a good EDC knife “should be able to do general utility tasks, like package and box opening, and, if you go outdoors, outdoor/camp tasks like food prep and light whittling/carving.” While these are the foundational reasons to carry a knife, their usefulness is far more universal. In a three-week span, I’ve used pocket knives to sharpen pencils, retrieve Legos from between floorboards, cut twine, remove an event wristband, open a bag of chicken feed, trim the odd thread hanging from a shirt, and remove ticks and splinters when no tweezers are available.

But EDC knives are not for everyone, and you have certain considerations to take into account if you’re looking to carry one. First, even though EDC knives are typically small, they’re still dangerous, so you need to handle them responsibly. Second, you need to maintain them, which means sharpening them.

You also have legal considerations. Knife laws vary from state to state and often from city to city. Some areas, such as New York City, have extremely prohibitive knife laws. We found the American Knife & Tool Institute , a knife-advocacy group, to be the most reliable source of information on this topic, but we also recommend checking in with local law enforcement to get the most up-to-date information.

But if you’re really after functionality in your pocket knife, we recommend a multi-tool, which we cover in much more detail here .

Choosing a knife is a personal decision, and 10 different people are likely to have 10 different favorites. But after speaking to experts and drawing from our own experience, we decided to focus on knives with the following common features and attributes.

Folding blades (as opposed to fixed blades): Most folding knives (known as folders) are small enough to fit in a pocket and have a general nonthreatening sense of utility about them. In social situations they’re likely to be more acceptable than a fixed-blade knife on a belt sheath. Fixed blades do have their place, particularly among outdoor enthusiasts, but we believe they aren’t the best option for a simple, discreet EDC blade.

Roughly a 3-inch blade length: Blade reviewer Dan Jackson called a 3-inch blade the “sweet spot” for size and explained to us that a 3-inch blade is “a functional size and provides plenty of cutting edge and plenty of handle to hang on to.” Tony Sculimbrene, writing at his site , says he doesn’t see the point of going larger than 3 inches for an EDC blade. In a number of reviews on his blog , he refers to “3:4:7” as the “golden ratio” of a folding knife—a 3-inch blade, a 4-inch handle, and a total length of 7 inches. In one review Sculimbrene refers to a length of 2½ to 3 inches as being his “[ideal] size for an EDC knife.”

Bigger blades have a few drawbacks. Sculimbrene told us, “A knife has to be VERY well designed to be 3.5 inches and not feel unnecessarily bulky or clumsy in the hand.” Jackson also acknowledged the awkward optics of a larger blade, saying that a knife shorter than about 3¼ inches “won’t be misinterpreted as a weapon.” 2

Lightweight: A consideration somewhat similar to blade length, weight is an important factor for anything you carry with you all day. We focused on knives that wouldn’t significantly weigh down most pockets, but didn’t sacrifice build quality or utility.

A drop-point blade shape: For blade shape, we focused our search on the classic drop-point style. With this design, the top edge of the blade arcs slightly downward toward the tip. The edge of the blade has a curve at the tip and then straightens out as it heads back to the handle, similar to what you can find on many chef’s knives. According to Jackson, this design is “a well-rounded blade shape” that offers “a good cutting edge, some belly (the curve to the edge towards the tip), which is good for slicing into things, and a fine tip for detail work." He also noted that the drop point is not a threatening shape. “A clip point blade is very practical for the same reasons, but it can look more aggressive, especially in a larger knife.” Drop-point shapes are easier to maintain, too. Sculimbrene told us, “One issue that a lot of people don't think about is the more complex the blade shape is, such as with a recurve or a tanto, the more difficult it is to sharpen and maintain.”

One-handed opening: Seeking the convenience of a one-handed open, we focused on knives with thumb studs, thumb holes, or flippers. Thumb studs and thumb holes provide a grip on the blade so that your thumb can flip it open. A flipper is a small tab that sticks out the back end of the handle; when you give it a quick flick, the blade pops open and locks. Jackson told us, "I like thumb studs, flippers, and thumb holes for deployment methods. Done properly, these allow for easy one-hand opening."

Liner locks, for one-handed closing: This style of lock secures the blade in the open position and offers easy closing with one hand. When you open the blade, a strip of the metal handle lining springs to the center of the knife and engages with the back end of the blade, locking it in place. To unlock the blade, you use your thumb to move the lock to the side while simultaneously shifting the blade forward with your forefinger. It’s an easy maneuver to master. It’s also doable with either the left or right hand, although easier with the right. Sculimbrene told us, “In terms of locking systems, the liner lock … is probably my favorite.”

Frame locks are essentially the same thing, except they’re a thicker piece of metal that engages with the blade. Experts consider frame locks to be the stronger design of the two, but both are plenty durable for everyday use. 3 As Jackson told us, liner locks “work great for daily utility tasks, but don't try to chop down a tree with them." In a review , Sculimbrene writes, “[In] the role of an EDC knife I think a liner lock is more than strong enough.”

A pocket clip: Most inexpensive knives have a single-position pocket clip, but more expensive models often give the option to move the clip to either side of the handle, as well as to either end. This is a nice feature to have, but it’s not an essential one, particularly if you’re new to knives and haven’t yet developed a preference. Sculimbrene told us, "A good pocket clip is a huge plus for a knife. I don't think it is required, but a good one is a treat. If you have a good handle design four position clips aren't necessary.”

Acceptable blade steel: Blade steel determines a blade’s strength, its corrosion resistance, and how often you’ll be sharpening it. Cheaper steels are softer and prone to dulling quicker, but are easier to sharpen than more expensive steels. We found that, depending on the steel, knives fell into a series of price ranges. For instance, the majority of knives from reputable manufacturers in the $15 to $50 range, where we spent most of our time, are made of either 8Cr13MoV or AUS-8, both of which are considered decent, but not great, steels. As Benjamin Schwartz writes in a review Jackson’s site , “For me, 8Cr13MoV is the baseline for modern steel, setting the bar for acceptability in every area, but impressing in none other than sharpenability. I’ve never been surprised by 8Cr13MoV, but never really disappointed by it either.”

A good value for the price: To find an entry-level knife with features that would satisfy an enthusiast, we centered our research on the $15 to $50 range. Sculimbrene made the interesting point that “if you are talking under $40, the quality is pretty much the same from $40 down to about $5 if you know what to avoid.” We found this to be true—we saw a lot of terrible $30 knives, and at least one really good one for considerably less (like our budget pick ). We also looked at knives in the $50 to $100 range, where “you get a huge uptick in quality,” according to Sculimbrene. He explained, “At around $50 you can find a wide variety of knives with superior steel, handle materials, and fit and finish.” Jackson told us he didn’t “think that anyone ‘needs’ a $75 pocket knife” but recommended “venturing into this price if you enjoy knives and want a more premium product.” But ultimately, he said, “a $25 knife will open a box like a $100 knife will.”

No serrations: The primary advantage to serrations is that they offer an increased ability to cut rope. On the downside, they’re difficult to sharpen, and they don’t make as clean of a cut. Sculimbrene, at his site , writes, “I do not like serrations. I don't do enough rope cutting tasks to make the serrations worth the sharpening hassle they cause.” Jackson agreed: “If you maintain your plain edge knife you will never miss having serrations.”

No assisted open: Knives with assisted open have an internal mechanism that springs the blade to the open position once it is just barely out of the handle. 4 Sculimbrene has strong opinions on such knives, writing at his site , "I do not like assisted opening or automatic knives. If a manual knife is well designed (like a flipper or a thumb hole) it will open just as fast. As such, the assisted opening or auto just adds parts that can break with no accompanying benefit. If you have an application that needs fast and thoughtless deployment, like combat or rescue, assisted and auto knives have their place. Otherwise, they aren't worth it."

A reliable model: We kept our search to established, time-tested models. Many knife manufacturers crank out new designs on a seasonal basis, so their catalogs are constantly shifting around. Sculimbrene explained that “knife companies generally ‘retire’ about 10% or 1/3 of their knife designs a year and sort of use the knife enthusiasts as product testers, moving successful designs in their evergreen line up.”

Sticking closely to the criteria above, we selected almost 30 knives to call in for a firsthand look. Our list focused mostly on reputable manufacturers such as Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber, Kershaw, and Spyderco. We also included a few outliers: The Spyderco Delica 4 and Dragonfly 2 have the lockback system but are regarded in the knife world as two of the best models available. In addition, we looked at two traditional folders with lockbacks; these models, from Buck Knives and from Case, rely on a fingernail nick. Last, a few knives with clip-point blades made their way into our testing, mostly since their high popularity and strong reputation made them hard to ignore in a comprehensive evaluation of the category. For this review, we did not look at any multitools like those from Leatherman and Gerber (we have a separate guide for those).

Once we had the knives in hand, it didn’t take long for us to narrow things down to about 10 models based on fit and finish alone. We quickly dismissed knives with impossible openings or awkward ergonomics. After that, we simply spent the majority of our testing carrying the knives around and using them daily. This approach gave us the best feel for the overall combination of ergonomics, pivot design, and handling, something that no lab testing could truly zero in on.

We also used these blades to slice up about 20 cardboard boxes and peel about 30 apples. These two tasks, one aggressive, the other delicate, gave us a sense of how comfortable the handles were and how easy it was to maneuver each blade for different types of cutting.

During testing, we sharpened our blades with the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker , a highly regarded sharpener among knife enthusiasts. In a review , Jackson writes, “I cannot recommend the Sharpmaker more highly. It’s a versatile no-nonsense sharpening system that almost anyone can learn how to use.” Touching up a blade on a whetstone takes skill and practice, but you can find easy-to-use systems like this (or the similar, cheaper Lansky 4 Rod Turn Box ) that can bring dull blades back to razor sharpness in minutes. 5

Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker

An excellent sharpener.

The compact and easy-to-use Tri-Angle Sharpmaker can bring a dull knife back to life in a matter of minutes.

We didn’t do any specific tests on edge retention. It is well documented that the better steels found on more expensive knives hold an edge longer than their less-expensive counterparts. We didn’t feel the need to rehash this information. But beyond that, we also believe that while edge retention plays a role in a knife’s quality, it doesn’t play a critically important one. As Benjamin Schwartz writes in one review , “I think that, in our spec-obsessed modern age, we forget that poor edge retention in any modern steel is [still] pretty decent: I cut through a lot of cardboard with the [very inexpensive] 710, more than I could reasonably expect to deal with in a month of standard use, before I noticed any real performance issues. I still prefer better steels, don’t get me wrong: I just think that we tend to hyperventilate when it comes to comparisons that, in 90% of the situations we find ourselves using blades in, don’t matter.”

Many of the knives we tested have at least 8Cr13MoV steel, which is the specific steel that Schwartz talks about in that review. In the end, even the so-so steels will be fine for day-to-day use. If you’re rough on your knives, you’ll need to sharpen them more often, but if you’re just cutting packing tape, trimming butcher’s string, and opening the mail, you should be able to go quite a while between sharpenings.

Through our testing, we found that the major differentiators between the knives were the handle ergonomics, the ease of unlocking, and the smoothness of the blade pivot. All of the knives we tested could open, close, lock, and cut—but not all of them could do those things equally well. In fact, we were surprised at the quality differences between similarly priced models that looked identical on paper. As Sculimbrene told us, there are some really good cheap knives, but we could determine which were which only after handling them. At a certain point, the stats fail and only hands-on experience works.

After handling so many knives, we developed a number of preferences. We preferred thumb studs and thumb holes over flipper mechanisms like those on the popular Kershaw knives we tested . Flippers can open only one way: extremely fast. Thumb studs offer a slower option, as well as a quick flip. During testing, I attended a number of family gatherings, where we used the knives for cutting rope for a kid’s swing, shaving off an aggressive splinter on a dock, and opening a few boxes. Some people have a strong reaction to a blade deploying at lightning speed, accompanied by the distinctive swooshing click of the blade lock engaging, so you’ll certainly have situations where a slower blade deployment is more appropriate.

We also found that knives with all-metal bodies can get slippery. We much preferred the sure-handed grip of carbon fiber or G10 (a fiberglass laminate).

After all of our research, conversations, slicing, dicing, apple peeling, and cardboard cutting, we believe that the best knife for most people is the Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) Drifter . Of all the knives in our test group, the Drifter offers the best overall proportions: It has a blade long enough for common tasks, a handle that can fit all sizes of hands, and a folded length that doesn’t take up too much space in a pocket. The fit and finish on the knife is excellent, and the blade opens with a smoothness common to more expensive knives. Once open, the blade locks with a liner lock that is secure yet simple to disengage. The G10 fiberglass laminate handle offers a light grippiness, and all of the edges are nicely machined and rounded over, which wasn’t the case with many of the other knives we tried.

The Drifter has a 2⅞-inch blade, a folded length of 3⅝ inches, and a total length of 6½ inches. The blade is long enough to slice up an apple or cut a sandwich in half. In our tests, we also liked that the underside was long enough to accommodate a sawing action if necessary, such as when we were cutting twine from hay bales; it was harder to do the same with shorter blades.

Although the Drifter’s handle is small, it’s comfortable in both big and small hands. Small and medium hands will be able to get a full four-fingered grip on the handle, while larger hands will get only three. But even with the three-fingered grip, the contoured back end of the handle tucks right into the base of the thumb and remains comfortable. In our tests, knives with even slightly larger blades—anything over 3 inches—had handles that started getting big for smaller hands.

The Drifter’s small size also meant we could easily shift the knife around in the hand. The shape of the grip naturally placed our fingers for good control over the blade, such as when we sharpened pencils or skinned apples. The back of the blade, at the handle end, has some grooves (called jimping), which gives the thumb a little traction during tougher cuts.

With the knife folded, it’s a good size for a pocket —big enough to find easily yet small enough that it can share the space with a set of keys, a wallet, or a small flashlight.

We found that the smoothness of the Drifter’s thumb-stud deployment was better than that of any other knife in the under-$45 price range and on a par with that of knives costing three or four times as much. While opening, the blade offers a smooth, even resistance, and once the liner lock is engaged, it holds firm with no blade movement at all, either back and forth or side to side. With a little practice, you can easily pop the blade open by flicking your thumb like you’re flipping a coin.

The handle is made of G10, a durable fiberglass composite, and CRKT has given it a very light texture. Even with damp or sweaty hands, it’s easy to hold and grip. Unlike knives with all-metal handles, the Drifter never felt slippery to us.

We found that it was those smaller touches, such as the feel of the handle and the ease of the blade deployment, that made the Drifter such a winner. Other knives with the same overall dimensions weren’t anywhere as nice as the Drifter. For example, the Gerber Mini Swagger, on paper, is the same as the Drifter, but the thumb stud is difficult to use, the lock is way too stiff, and it’s not as comfortable in the hand.

The blade of the Drifter is made of 8Cr14MoV steel. In a  review of the knife , Dan Jackson writes, “I like it because it’s easy to sharpen, holds an edge reasonably well and has decent corrosion resistance.” The Drifter’s steel is very similar to 8Cr13MoV, a standard midgrade blade steel found on the majority of brand-name knives priced under $45. During testing we had no issue with it at all, and we liked how easily we could get a shaving-sharp edge. All knives need maintenance, and while the Drifter may require a tune-up more often than a $80 knife, it still offers a solid amount of performance. After we used it for small daily tasks over the course of two weeks, the Drifter’s blade was still able to make a clean slice through a sheet of newsprint.

The praise that the knife community has heaped on the Drifter is unanimous. Across all the professional reviews of the Drifter, we couldn’t find a bad one. Among many knife aficionados, the Drifter consistently pops up in conversations about the best inexpensive EDC knife. Jackson and Sculimbrene include the Drifter on their respective best-of lists and have given the knife fantastic individual reviews.

On his best-of list , Sculimbrene names the Drifter the “Best Budget Folder” and writes, “This is my favorite CRKT and one of the best knives out there under $30.”

Jackson  writes in his review that the Drifter is “both well made and inexpensive” and that it offers “[e]verything you would expect from a much more expensive knife.” He also makes the point that it’s a “great ambassador for the knife world.”

The Drifter is a bargain, and during our use it felt more like the $80 to $100 knives we tested. It far surpasses many of the others in its price range, which commonly have cheap materials, too-tight pivots, or locks that are hard to disengage.

For all of the positives of the Drifter, we wish it were better in two areas: the single-position pocket clip and the slight recurve of the blade shape. Both of these shortcomings are well-documented in other reviews, as well.

The Drifter’s single-position pocket clip is set in the right-handed, tip-down configuration; you get no other options. Some of the other nice knives we found in this price range, such as the Zancudo ( our runner-up ), the Kershaw Chill , and the Ontario RAT II , all have multi-position pocket clips that either cater more easily to left-handed users or at least offer the right-handed tip-up position. It’s unfortunate that the Drifter doesn’t provide such customization, but we don’t think that’s an essential feature. In his review Sculimbrene calls out the lack of positioning options but still refers to it as “a very good clip for the money.”

The other ding against the Drifter is the slight recurve of the blade edge as it heads back toward the handle. Recurves are designed so that they can “grab” better, particularly with a sawing cut, but the downside is that they’re harder to maintain. The unfortunate thing here is that the Drifter’s curve is enough to make sharpening a little more difficult but not enough to really aid in cutting. The sharpening system we used for testing, the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker, is designed to deal with recurves, so we didn’t have a problem, but if you’re sharpening on a traditional stone, it will be a little trickier.

If the Drifter is not available or if you tend to take on more aggressive tasks with your knife, we recommend the Blue Ridge Knives ESEE Zancudo . With a full 4-inch handle, it’s a little larger than the Drifter, so it’s ideal for medium to large hands (although still workable for smaller ones). The Zancudo has a nice, smooth pivot and a frame lock that’s stronger than the Drifter’s liner lock. The teardrop handle shape is a little unusual, but in our tests it was among the most comfortable to hold, especially when we were really bearing down on it. Due to the amount of metal in the body of the Zancudo, it’s heavier than the Drifter, but that metal also gives the knife a sturdier feel. We’re convinced that the more-compact Drifter is the better option for most people, but if you beat on your knives, the Zancudo is a great choice. As blade reviewer Dan Jackson writes , “the Zancudo isn’t a particularly sexy knife, but it is practical, robust, and well made.”

The handle of the Zancudo looks a little odd, but it fit our hands perfectly. We found it comfortable during aggressive cutting and easy to shift around for more delicate tasks. In their respective reviews, both Dan Jackson and Tony Sculimbrene call out the Zancudo for its unusual aesthetics but overall success. Jackson writes, “While on paper the handle of the Zancudo looks a little goofy, in hand it all makes sense.”

The construction of the handle is also unusual, with each side sporting a completely different look: The clip side is entirely metal, while the other side is scaled with a lightly textured fiberglass-reinforced nylon. We liked this design because the smooth metal side reduced friction while we moved the knife in and out of a pocket, but at the same time, the nylon side offered more than enough grip for a secure hold. In addition, the body of the Zancudo is very thin (thinner than the Drifter). Jackson writes that he “found it very pocketable.”

The pivot is also nice, although not as smooth as the Drifter’s. The Zancudo opens with a good, grippy thumb stud, and with a little practice, you can flick open the blade without any issue. It’s a frame-lock knife, so it requires more finger strength to disengage the lock, but we never thought that created a problem.

The Zancudo has a two-position pocket clip, both right-handed but with a tip-up option and a tip-down option (or you can remove it altogether).

The Zancudo’s blade steel is AUS-8, another of the solid midrange steels. Jackson writes that AUS-8 “offers a good balance of toughness, edge sharpness and corrosion resistance.” Experts consider AUS-8 as being on a par with, if not a whisker better quality than, 8Cr13MoV steel. We see no practical difference between this steel and the Drifter’s 8Cr14MoV.

Like the Drifter, the Zancudo gets high marks from knife reviewers, including both of the experts we interviewed. Jackson told us that he was especially fond of it and that it’s “one of his favorites” in the sub-$40 price range: “I still use and enjoy my Zancudo several years after purchasing it.” Sculimbrene, in his review , writes that he isn’t a fan of the sizable pocket clip or the aesthetics of the handle. But he goes on to say, “I LOVE the Zancudo blade shape. It is simply sublime. Simplicity in a Shaker sense--pure, unadulterated functionality.” He also writes, “It has a few drawbacks, but man is the blade shape awesome.”

Overall, the Zancudo offers a great feeling of utility, and as our testing wore on, it really won us over. We believe that the Drifter, due to its smaller size and smoother operation, is the better pick for most people, but in our tests, when we knew we would be working a knife extra hard, like heading into a house project, we preferred having the Zancudo with us. Sculimbrene also picks up on this general sense of durability in his review, writing, “Go buy this knife. Go thump on it. You'll be surprised how much it can do. It will be the knife you reach for when you don't want to mess up that $1000 custom.” Jackson, in a similar fashion, writes that the Zancudo is “sure and comfortable, and the knife is ready for work.” He told us that the Zancudo “will provide years of service with proper care and maintenance.”

We tested the black-handle Zancudo with the stonewashed blade, but the knife is also available with a brown, tan, or green handle and a black blade.

If you’re new to knives and want to spend as little as possible but still get something decent, we recommend the Sanrenmu 710 (aka 7010) . Usually priced around $20, this model was the least expensive knife we tested—and also one of our favorites. In spite of the knife’s low cost, the pivot and thumb-stud flipping action have a smoothness similar to that of the Drifter. The overall size is almost identical as well, consisting of a 2¾-inch blade, a 3¾-inch handle, and a total length of 6½ inches. 6 The drawbacks: The all-metal body can get slippery, and we found the company to be very unresponsive to our queries, which raised some red flags about customer service and warranty support.

Like the Drifter and the Zancudo, the 710 has a thumb stud, so you can deploy the blade slowly or, with the flick of your thumb, quickly. In our tests the pivot had an even resistance, better than that of some of the $30 knives we tried. The blade locks in place with a nice, flexible frame lock that you can easily move out of the way to close the blade.

The 710’s blade is made of 8Cr13MoV, which is what we found on a lot of sub-$45 knives. In a guide to blade steels , reviewer Dan Jackson writes that it is “actually excellent steel for the money.” Jackson continues: “Like AUS-8, it lacks the edge retention of the higher end steels but can take a wicked edge and is reasonably tough and corrosion resistant. For EDC knives in the $35 and under bracket 8Cr13MoV is really tough steel to beat.” Discussing the 710's blade steel at Jackson's BladeReviews.com , Benjamin Schwartz writes, “Yes, 154CM or N690Co or S30V are better steels by a long shot, but in a regular week of use I certainly wouldn’t appreciate the difference.” As with the Drifter, we believe that the bottom line is that all knives need maintenance, and given the low cost of the 710, it’s unreasonable to expect this knife to have a high-end steel. In fact, if you’re unfamiliar with knife sharpening, 8Cr13MoV is a great steel to learn on, because restoring an edge is so easy.

In Schwartz’s review of the knife, he also writes, “Sanrenmu helped to establish the budget knife archetype, and here we have as distilled a representation of that archetype as possible. The 710 is a very, very good knife.”

But the Sanrenmu 710 has a number of drawbacks.

Functionally, the all-metal body tended to be slippery in our tests, especially when we tried to get purchase on the thumb stud. If your hands are damp or oily, forget about it. The knife handle also seemed to twist slightly while we were gripping it, something that didn’t happen with the Drifter. The handle has a light amount of texturing, but as Schwartz writes in his review, “it doesn’t help with the grip during deployment, which this knife could use.”

The 710 also has only one pocket-clip position (right-hand, tip-down). It would be nice if this model offered more options, but again, we didn’t see many under-$45 knives with multiple clip options, and we don’t think it’s a critically important feature. For a knife typically priced around $20, that’s an expected sacrifice.

We’re also not impressed with Sanrenmu’s customer service, so we question the company’s stated warranty. The box of the 710 says that Sanrenmu will replace any knife with a quality defect, but we’re skeptical. We sent numerous emails to the company while researching this article and never got any response. Blade reviewer Tony Sculimbrene also raised the point that with Sanrenmu, as with other Chinese manufacturers, “we don’t know who they are.”

The last drawback is that Sanrenmu is a topic of controversy among knife aficionados, and the 710 is a perfect example of why. The body design of the 710 bears a significant resemblance to that of the highly regarded Chris Reeve Sebenza , which retails for $350 to $500 depending on the features and blade steel. Sanrenmu isn’t trying to pass its knife off as a Sebenza, so the company is not counterfeiting (which is a huge problem in the knife world), but the similarities are difficult to deny. Jackson told us he didn’t see a huge problem with the 710: “[It’s] nothing like the real [Sebenza]. It does share a similar profile, and both knives have frame locks, but that’s about it in my opinion.” He told us that “no one would confuse the two” and distinguished this situation from those where “there are people making counterfeit clones that are designed to look like a real Chris Reeve knife.” Sculimbrene expressed a different opinion—although he told us that he did like a number of Sanrenmu knives, he “refuse[d] to buy the rip off Sebenza,” saying that “there are enough good cheap knives out there that there is no good reason to buy a knock off.” We are more inclined to agree with Jackson, but we understand why some people might avoid the 710.

If you appreciate the finessing of all the little details (and have a larger knife budget), we recommend the Benchmade Mini Griptilian . In nearly every way, the Mini Griptilian is superior to our other, less expensive picks. It has a smoother release, which results in the fastest blade deployment you could ever ask for. The blade unlocks with Benchmade’s proprietary Axis lock, which is fully ambidextrous and very easy to use. The grip is contoured and heavily textured, so it will stay in your hand. The blade is made of high-end steel ( CPM-S30V) , and the lightweight handle offers good balance. All of that comes at a cost, though, as the Mini Griptilian typically retails in the $150 range. Anyone in the knife world likely won’t be surprised to see this recommendation, as the Mini Griptilian has a long-standing reputation as one of the premier folding EDC pocket knives.

As with the Drifter, you deploy the blade of the Mini Griptilian using a thumb stud. The difference is that with the Mini Griptilian, flicking the blade open is nearly effortless. The Drifter is easy and smooth, for sure, but the Mini Griptilian is like silk. Closing the blade has an equal smoothness. Once the blade is past a certain point, it lightly snaps back into the handle (with a very high-quality and satisfying sound). Anyone who owned the Drifter would be unlikely to covet either of these subtle touches, and they’re by no means essential features, but they are nice, and they are the marks of a high-quality knife.

One unique element of the Mini Griptilian is Benchmade’s Axis lock. This design consists of a spring-loaded bar that sits across the body of the blade. Once the blade is fully open, the bar pops forward to lock in place. To unlock it, you pull the ends of the bar away from the blade (the ends look like small thumb studs in the body of the knife).

The Axis lock has a number of advantages over the standard liner lock of the Drifter or the frame lock of the Zancudo and 710. For one, it makes the knife completely ambidextrous. You can operate liner locks and frame locks with either hand, but those designs are unquestionably easier for right-handed people. The Axis lock makes no such distinction, and coupled with the Mini Griptilian’s multi-position pocket clip, it results in a knife that remains fully accessible regardless of your hand dominance.

A second benefit of the Axis lock is that it allows for an additional open/close option. With the locking bar pulled back, the blade sits loosely enough for you to snap it open or closed with a slight flick of the wrist. You don’t even need to touch the thumb stud. Again, this is a great touch, but not essential to the operation of the knife.

The handle of the Mini Griptilian is another high point. Most pocket knives, like our other recommendations, have flat sides, but the Mini Griptilian’s are slightly rounded to fit the hand. It’s a small touch, but noticeable when you’re using the knife. The grip area is also heavily textured along the sides and edges of the handle. We found that once the Mini Griptilian was in our grip, it took a lot for this knife to come out. In fact, if there is a downside, it’s that the handle is too grippy: During our aggressive cardboard-cutting session, the texture along the edges of the knife became uncomfortable.

The handle is made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon. It’s very light, and at first we thought it felt a little cheap for a $100 knife. After having the Mini Griptilian in our pocket for a week or so, we came to like the handle for its overall feel, which was light and durable.

The benefits of the Mini Griptilian don’t stop with the knife itself. Benchmade , the manufacturer, will “clean, oil, adjust and re-sharpen your Benchmade knife to a factory razor sharp edge” at no cost (you’re responsible for the shipping to Benchmade, but not the return shipping).

At around $150 usually, the Mini Griptilian can be a little hard to justify, especially when you can get the perfectly good Drifter for under $40. As reviewer Tony Sculimbrene told us, “Knives are not commodities like milk, so five times the price won't give you five times the stuff.” But still, he added, “You are probably more likely to keep and use a good knife than a cheap one. You are also probably less likely to buy a series of upgrades if you buy a nice knife.” Jackson told us that a cheaper knife and an expensive knife will “both cut the same more or less,” but pointed out that “most people would be able to feel the difference between an $80 Mini Griptilian and a $25 Zancudo.”

In the knife community, the Mini Griptilian is a popular and very highly regarded knife. In a  review , Jackson writes, “The Mini Griptilian is an absolutely fantastic EDC option. It’s lightweight, sturdy, and very well made.” He later notes, “Perhaps the only issue is the price. This isn’t a cheap knife, but it is wonderfully made (in the USA) and I think you get what you pay for.”

If you simply prefer a more traditional-looking knife, even if that comes at the expense of perks like a one-handed open and close, a textured handle, and a pocket clip, we recommend the Buck Knives 55 . The Buck 55 is a small knife, less than 6 inches fully open, but it has a comfortable handle given its size. The brass portion of the frame is thick and sturdy, and the wood accents, made of American walnut, are attractive. We tested ours for about a month as we were writing this review, and the brass bolsters (the protective metal ends of the handle) took on a nice used patina, further enhancing the age-old feel of the Buck 55’s overall design.

The blade of the Buck 55 is under 2½ inches, so it’s not a large knife (it’s actually a half-size version of a classic design, the popular Buck 110 ). But in this case, the size is a distinct advantage, because without a clip to secure it, the 55 is destined to roam free in a pocket, so it’s nice that this knife doesn’t take up a lot of room, especially when it works its way to the bottom of the pocket and ends up resting across the curve of your leg. The blade size is about as small as we’d want to recommend, but there’s no question that it can cut string, open a package, or free a toy from a blister pack.

The small handle has a simple arcing design that provides a nice grip and is easy to hold in a variety of ways. The texturing is minimal and consists of a light amount of wood grain and three small brass studs per side, but in our tests the knife held firm in our hands. The Buck 55 didn’t have the grab of the Drifter’s G10 handle, but it wasn’t as slippery as the Sanrenmu 710’s polished metal.

The Buck 55 has a clip-point blade, which, functionally, is very similar to a drop-point blade. It has a fine tip for detail cutting, a belly up front for slicing, and a flat edge for dicing and chopping. For the most part, we avoided clip-point blades in our research and testing, because as reviewer Dan Jackson told us, they can appear threatening in a larger knife. But with a total length of 5¾ inches and a cutting edge of barely over 2 inches, the Buck 55 is not a menacing knife. Clip-point blades are also common on this style of traditional folder, and are what many people have come to expect. Because of those reasons, we don’t think blade shape is an issue here.

The Buck 55 opens and closes with a pronounced (and satisfying) snapping noise as the back lock falls into place. The lock itself, positioned at the rear end of the handle, takes two hands to disengage. You could maneuver the knife around and do it one-handed by pressing the lock and folding the knife closed against a leg or some other solid object, but that’s awkward. The Case Mini Copperlock, the other traditional knife we tested, positions the lock at the middle of the handle, so this one-handed operation is easier but still awkward.

The Buck 55’s blade is made of 420HC steel, which is on the lower side of the steel spectrum, but Buck applies a heat treatment that by all accounts puts it up in the range of 8Cr13MoV and AUS-8. Knife Informer’s guide to knife steel says of 420HC: “Still considered a lower-mid range steel but the more competent manufacturers (e.g. Buck) can really bring out the best in this affordable steel using quality heat treatments. That results in better edge retention and resistance to corrosion.”

We tested the Buck 55 against the Case Mini Copperlock , another well-regarded traditional knife, and each has its high points. The two knives are very similar, with nearly identical handle lengths (the blade of the Case is about ¼ inch longer). The Case is a very nice knife, but we preferred the Buck due to the more robust body design and the blade steel. In the end, this comparison was the one instance where the blade steel played a role, as the steel on the Buck held an edge noticeably longer than the Case’s. With all other aspects being so similar, we decided that the Buck was the better option. It’s also typically priced around $10 to $15 less than the Case.

CRKT also sells a version of the Drifter with an all-metal handle , but both Dan Jackson and Tony Sculimbrene write in their Drifter reviews that they prefer the version with the G10 handle. During our testing, we found all-metal handles slippery.

The Gerber Assert (available in black , grey , or fully customized ) is a very nice knife, typically costing around $175. It has the same steel as the Benchmade Mini Griptilian, but it is lighter and thinner. It draws comparisons to the well-regarded Benchmade Bugout and Mini Bugout . While out of the price range we focused on, this is a knife to consider if you’re looking for nice high-end knife.

There is no denying that Spyderco makes excellent knifes. We tested the (now discontinued) Spyderco Dragonfly 2 and Delica 4  (the Dragonfly 2 tops reviewer Tony Sculimbrene’s recommendation list ). The handles are extremely comfortable, the knives have good blade steel, and they open easily with a thumb hole. Both models have back locks, though, and as nice as they are, we prefer the liner locks and frame locks of our recommended knives, which are easier to use one-handed especially for someone who might be unfamiliar with knives.

The blade of the Ontario Knife Company's RAT II and RAT I knives are aligned slightly above the handle, and we thought the finger notches on them were too far away from the blade, so we preferred the ergonomics of the CRKT Drifter and Blue Ridge ESEE Zancudo. On the positive side, the RAT II is the best of the sub-$50 knives with a four-position pocket clip, so if that feature is important to you, this knife is a solid option.

CRKT’s Pazoda and Squid are typically less expensive than the Drifter, and both models have robust all-metal bodies and frame locks. But we found the blade deployment on both knives much harder than the buttery feel of the Drifter. With only a few dollars separating them, we think the added investment in the Drifter is worth it.

We can say the same for the Kershaw Atmos , Skyline , and Chill : Each are nicely made, lightweight—the Atmos is under 2 ounces—thin knives with great handles, but we thought thumb-stud designs offered better opening options.

We liked the carabiner clip on the Kershaw Reverb , but in our tests that feature wasn’t enough to offset the difficult open or the awkward liner lock.

Kershaw’s CQC-5K has a small notch at the top of the blade that is designed to catch and deploy the blade as you remove the knife from a pocket. It’s a cool feature, but not an essential one. While the CQC-5K is a durable knife, it has a wider, heavier body than our picks.

Although the Milwaukee Tool Hardline is a smooth flipper, its robust metal body made it really heavy compared with the rest of our test group. It’s built by a tool company, so that heavy-abuse build quality is not surprising, but we don’t think the added weight is necessary for an EDC knife.

The carabiner/bottle opener of the Leatherman Crater C33 came in handy, but overall the handle wasn’t as comfortable as those of our picks, and the blade pivot was not as nice.

The Coast FDX302 feels durable and has a secondary blade lock, but at over 7½ inches it’s a larger knife, and we much preferred the smaller CRKT Drifter.

Aside from the Buck 55, the Case Mini Copperlock was the only other traditional knife we tested. It’s very similar to the Buck and is available in a wide variety of “looks,” but the steel is softer and it’s usually more expensive, so we preferred the Buck.

Reviewer Tony Sculimbrene is a big fan of the  LA Police Gear TBFK S35VN , as he named it his best budget blade of 2017. But the blade is over 3 inches and the overall length is 8 inches, so we think it’s on the large side, particularly considering that the CRKT Drifter is so compact.

We dismissed a number of popular knives—including the Kershaw Blur , Cryo , Leek , and Scallion , plus the SOG Flash II —for having an assisted open.

We did not look at the Opinel N°6 for a couple of reasons. First, as Tony Sculimbrene told us, “in general [wood handles] should be avoided” due to the natural swelling and shrinking of the material. In a recommendation roundup at his site, Sculimbrene writes, “I have an Opinel as a camp cooking knife and it is great, but if you leave it out over night, even the dew will make the handle very hard to use.” The Opinel N°6 also has a collar lock, which takes two hands to engage.

The Zancudo is manufactured by Blue Ridge Knives but designed by ESEE, a popular maker of fixed-blade knives. Most knife reviewers as well as the retailer Blade HQ call it the ESEE Zancudo, but a few other retailers, such as Amazon, call it the Blue Ridge Zancudo.

The larger the blade is, the larger the handle needs to be. Every ¼ inch of blade adds ½ inch to the total length of the knife, and there is a significant overall size difference between a knife with a 3-inch blade, for example, and a knife with a 3½-inch blade.

Knife retailer Blade HQ did a comparison stress test of liner locks, frame locks, and lockback knives, and found that liner locks, on average, could hold 243 pounds of weight before failing, while the frame locks held 277, and the lockbacks held 370. So while liner locks are the weakest of the three, they can still withstand a significant amount of force with a strength that far exceeds your needs for everyday tasks.

Assisted-open knives are not switchblades, which is a common misconception. While switchblades are button operated, assisted-open knives are manual, because you have to open the blade before the spring kicks in. Assisted-open knives are not illegal by virtue of the opening system, but in many cities and states, switchblades are.

We have a separate guide for knife sharpeners , but those picks are geared toward kitchen knives. Due to the handle design, pocket knives are often not compatible with the pull-through sharpeners we recommend there.

The similarities are such that blade reviewers Dan Jackson  and Tony Sculimbrene have both raised the possibility that Sanrenmu may manufacture the Drifter for CRKT (but in our interviews, neither claimed to know that for sure). As Jackson noted, “[The] construction [of the Drifter and the 710] is very similar. Same screws, finished the same way - it just looks like it was made by the same company. It’s just a theory, but I would not be surprised to learn if SRM made the Drifter.”

Meet your guide

Doug Mahoney

Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor. He lives in a very demanding 250-year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. He also raises sheep and has a dairy cow that he milks every morning.

Further reading

The Best Utility Knife

by Doug Mahoney

The Milwaukee 48-22-1502 Fastback Utility Knife with Blade Storage is an ideal utility knife.

Don’t Open Boxes With Your Kitchen Knives Ever Again! This Utility Knife Breaks Them Down With Ease, And It Helps Tackle DIY Projects, Too.

The Milwaukee Fastback combines safety and function like no other utility knife.

The Best Carving Knife and Fork

by Tim Heffernan

We carved five turkeys, two beef roasts, a pork roast, and a ham to find an attractive, effective, and reasonably priced carving set.

The Best Knife Sharpener

Easy to use, reliable, and able to put a razor edge on almost any type of knife, the best knife sharpener for home cooks is the Chef’sChoice Trizor XV .

What Size Pocket Knife Will Tsa Allow?

Many people who travel are unsure of what size pocket knife the TSA will allow. This article will provide a list of the TSA’s must haves and must not haves for allowed edged blades. By the end of this article, you will know exactly what size pocket knife the TSA will allow.

So, what size pocket knife will tsa allow?

The TSA’s restrictions on pocket knives are relatively straightforward: the blade must be no longer than 2.36 inches, it must be no wider than 0.5 inches, it must not have a blade lock, and it must not have a molded handle. However, these restrictions still leave many people in the EDC community wondering what size pocket knife they will be allowed to carry on a plane.

Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to determine what size knife you can carry on a plane. First, check the TSA’s website for a list of allowed and prohibited items. Second, check with your airline to see if they have any additional restrictions on carry-on items. Finally, if you’re still unsure, err on the side of caution and only bring a knife that meets the TSA’s requirements.

Let’s dig into it and see what’s inside.

KEY TAKEAWAY:

• You’re allowed to bring a small pocket knife with a blade that’s less than 4 inches long on domestic flights within the US. But if you’re traveling internationally, or to a US territory like Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, you’ll need to check with the local authorities to find out what size and type of knife they allow. When packing your knife for air travel, make sure to put it in your checked baggage. You’re not allowed to bring sharp objects in your carry-on baggage, so it’s best to play it safe and pack them in your checked baggage instead. If you have a larger knife, make sure it’s securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers. Before you fly, check the TSA’s website for a list of prohibited items. This way, you can make sure you’re not packing anything that could get you in trouble at the airport.
• The TSA’s guidelines for carrying a pocket knife on an airplane are that the knife must have a blade that is less than 2.36 inches long and less than 1/2 inch wide. Additionally, the knife must be made of a material that is not hard enough to puncture or cut through the skin.
• You can bring a multi-purpose tool on an airplane as long as the scissors are less than 4 inches. However, any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or placed in a protective cover.
• The TSA allows knives on airplanes as long as the blade is less than four inches long. However, there are some restrictions on other items that could be dangerous on a flight, such as lighters, matches, and flammable items. You also can’t bring any kind of weapon onboard, even if it is legal to carry it in your state.
• You are not allowed to bring a pocket knife through airport security. However, you can check it in your luggage. If you are caught with a pocket knife at a security checkpoint, you may be subject to civil penalties and/or criminal charges.

Can I Take My Pocket Knife On A Plane?

No, you cannot take a pocket knife on a plane. Sharp objects are not allowed in carry-on baggage, so you will need to pack your pocket knife in your checked baggage.

Will Tsa Confiscate A Pocket Knife?

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is known for confiscating a lot of pocket knives from travellers. In fact, they end up being sold in bulk at auctions. So if you don’t want to lose your knife, it’s best not to pack it in your hand luggage. You can pack a pocket knife in your checked baggage, but that often involves baggage fees.

What Knives Can Go Through Tsa?

The TSA states that you can bring knives with you in either your carry-on or checked baggage, with the exception of plastic or round bladed butter knives. All sharp objects should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors. For a full list of prohibited items, please visit the TSA’s ‘What Can I Bring?’ page.

What Size Knife Is Legal To Carry-On A Plane 2022?

As of August 18, 2022, you are still able to bring knives on a plane, but they must adhere to certain size restrictions. The blade must be no longer than 2.36 inches and no wider than 1/2 inch. For more information on what items are prohibited, please visit the TSA website.

Can I Take A Pen Knife On A Plane?

No, you cannot bring a pen knife on a plane in your carry-on baggage. Sharp objects are not allowed in carry-on bags, and this includes pocket knives, pen knives, utility knives, and Swiss army knives. These items must be packed in checked baggage instead.

ESSENTIALS:

• Can You Bring A Knife On A Plane In Checked Baggage?: You can bring a knife in your checked luggage, but not in your carry-on baggage.
• Can I Bring A Pocket Knife On A Plane?: No, unless the knife meets the TSA’s criteria for size and blade length. Even taking a forbidden object to a checkpoint is against the law, so it is best to avoid doing so altogether.
• Can You Bring A Hunting Knife On A Plane?: You may pack a hunting knife in checked baggage, but it must be securely packed and comply with TSA rules. Knives with blades 6 cm or less are permitted when flying within Canada or to an international (non-U.S.) destination.
• What Kind Of Knives Are Tsa Approved?: The TSA has a list of approved knives that passengers are allowed to bring on planes, which include plastic or round-bladed butter knives. All other sharp objects, including pocket knives, are not allowed in carry-on baggage and must be packed in checked baggage.
• What Are The Tsa Knife Rules?: The TSA knife rules state that no knives are allowed in carry-on bags, with the exception of plastic or round-bladed butter knives. All sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers.

As for what size pocket knife will TSA allow, the answer is anything 2.36 inches or shorter in length and 0.5 inches or narrower in width. That said, it’s always best to check with the TSA before packing any type of knife in your carry-on or checked luggage.

Related Post:

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• What time does tsa open at austin airport?
• What time does tsa open at bna?

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Rules on Bringing a Pocket Knife on a Plane: Cutting Through the Confusion

Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, a pocket knife can be an invaluable tool to have with you at your destination.

Fortunately, you can bring a pocket knife on a plane – but only in your checked baggage, not your carry on bags.

This comes direct from the TSA.

However, note that the TSA also state that “TSA officers have the discretion to prohibit any item through the screening checkpoint if they believe it poses a security threat.”

There are a few other important things you should be aware of, though, before you think about flying with your pocket knife to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Table of Contents

• 1 Bringing a Pocket Knife in Your Checked Bag
• 2 Bringing a Pocket Knife in Your Carry On Bag
• 3 Airline Regulations
• 4 The Rules Change When Flying Internationally
• 5 You Can’t Bring All Types of Knives On a Plane
• 6 TSA-Approved Pocket Knifes is Just Marketing
• 7 You Don’t Have to Declare You Are Traveling With a Pocket Knife
• 8 You Can Bring Other Sharp Items on a Plane
• 9 Self-Defense Items Are Also Allowed

Bringing a Pocket Knife in Your Checked Bag

Passengers are allowed to pack a pocket knife in their checked baggage. This applies to standard pocket knives, kitchen knives, Swiss army knives, and surprisingly, even swords.

TSA does not have a limit on the length or type of blade either – i.e. curved blades, for example, are allowed.

You just have to make sure that you safely secure the blade to avoid any accidents in the event that your baggage needs to be opened and inspected.

Bringing a Pocket Knife in Your Carry On Bag

Under no circumstances are passengers allowed to pack a pocket knife in their carry on bags.

However, if you want to bring a plastic or round-bladed butter knife in your carry on bags, this is allowed.

Interestingly, in 2013 , the TSA changed their rules to allow passengers to bring a pocket knife onboard in their carry on bags.

But the public, airlines , and the Association of Flight Attendants pushed back, making this repeal very short-lived.

Airline Regulations

All airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue, follow TSA guidelines when it comes to bringing a pocket knife on a plane.

This means that pocket knifes are forbidden in your carry on bags, but allowed in your checked bags.

The Rules Change When Flying Internationally

Bringing a pocket knife on a plane isn’t like determining how many ounces you can take on a plane , which all countries are aligned on.

A pocket knife is considered to be a dangerous item that can be used as a weapon, which means international destinations have their own rules and regulations in place.

• EU: Knives with blades no longer than 6 cm (2.36 inches) are allowed in your carry on bags
• UK: Knives with blades no longer than 6 cm (2.36 inches) are allowed in your carry on bags
• Canada: Knives with blades no longer than 6 cm (2.36 inches) are allowed in your carry on bags
• Australia: Pocket knifes are forbidden in your carry on bags
• China: Pocket knifes are forbidden in your carry on bags

Having said this, there’s still a possibility that your pocket knife will be confiscated because the final decision will rest with the security officer at the checkpoint.

If they think your pocket knife poses a threat, they won’t allow you to pass through with it.

To be on the safe side, pack your pocket knife in your checked bag when flying domestically and internationally.

You Can’t Bring All Types of Knives On a Plane

While you are allowed to bring a wide range of knives on a plane in your checked baggage, there are several restrictions.

Generally, the restrictions only apply if the knife is illegal in the first place.

While states may have different laws, it’s a safe bet to avoid packing the following in either your carry on or checked bags.

• Flick knives
• Butterfly knives
• Knives that resemble other objects
• Throwing stars, death stars, throwing knives
• Push daggers

TSA-Approved Pocket Knifes is Just Marketing

There isn’t such a thing as a TSA-approved pocket knife.

TSA state that pocket knifes are allowed in your checked bags and forbidden in your carry on bags.

They do not give any more information than this, such as the type or length of the blade.

However, the TSA also state that “TSA officers have the discretion to prohibit any item through the screening checkpoint if they believe it poses a security threat.”

So if a TSA agent doesn’t like the look of your pocket knife, it may be confiscated.

You Don’t Have to Declare You Are Traveling With a Pocket Knife

In the USA, you are not required that you are traveling with a pocket knife.

This is because a pocket knife is classified as a sharp object – and as with other sharp objects, there is no need to declare them.

You Can Bring Other Sharp Items on a Plane

Many passengers want to know if they can take other sharp items on a plane – thankfully, the answer is yes to a wide array of items.

• Box Cutters: Only in your checked bags
• Disposable Razor: Only in your checked bags
• Electric Razor : Yes, in both your carry on and checked bags
• Ice Axes/Ice Picks: Only in your checked bags
• Razor-Type Blades : Only in your checked bags
• Sabers : Only in your checked bags
• Saws : Only in your checked bags
• Scissors : You can bring scissors on a plane in both your carry on bags and checked bags. But if packed in your carry-on, the blade must be less than 4 inches from the pivot point
• Sewing Needles : Yes, in both your carry on and checked bags
• Swiss Army Knife : Only in your checked bags
• Swords : Only in your checked bags

Self-Defense Items Are Also Allowed

You are allowed to bring one 4 fl. oz. (118 ml) container of pepper spray on a plane in your checked baggage, but are not allowed to bring pepper spray in your carry on.

You can bring a taser on a plane in your checked baggage (along with stun guns and electro-shock weapons), but they are not allowed in your carry on bags.

You can bring bear spray on a plane in your checked bags, as long as the volume of the spray is less than 4oz and the active ingredient is less than 2%.

Keep in mind that tasers are either banned, require a background check, or permit for civilian ownership depending on the state.

According to the TSA , only if you bring any of the following sharp objects are you subject to a fine, which can be between $390 – $2,250:

Axes and hatchets; bows and/or arrows; ice axes and ice picks; knives with blades that open automatically (such as switchblades); knives with blades that open via gravity (such as butterfly knives); any double-edge knives or daggers; meat cleavers; sabers; swords; fencing foils;machetes; throwing stars.

Ella Dunham

Ella Dunham, a Freelance Travel Journalist and Marketing Manager, boasts an impressive career spanning eight years in the travel and tourism sectors.

Honored as one of "30 Under 30" by TTG Media (the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper), a "Tour Operator Travel Guru" and "Legend Award" winner, Ella is also a Fellow of the Institute of Travel, a Member of the Association of Women Travel Executives, has completed over 250 travel modules, and hosts travel-focused segments on national radio shows where she provides insights on travel regulations and destinations.

Ella has visited over 40 countries (with 10 more planned this year).

Related Posts:

Can You Take a Pocket Knife On a Plane? 2024

Nothing wrong with aways keeping a small pocket knife.

But can you bring a pocket knife on a plane? and what size knife is legal to carry-on a plane?

Here is the quick answer.

The TSA and most airline do not allow pocket knives on board the airplanes as they are dangerous items, but you can bring a small pocket knife in checked baggage, just ensure it is protected and wrapped neatly.

In this post you will know everything about traveling with pocket knives in both carry-on and checked baggage, in addition to some international policies.

Disclaimer : Please note that we are not attorneys or  legal authorities, we are travel enthusiast and we write about our experiences and topics we find useful, before you travel with your knife make sure that you are doing it right, some type of knives may get you in some unnecessary trouble, you can contact your airline, send them a photo of your knife or contact the airport security.

Take a Knife Through The TSA Security Checkpoint

According to TSA pocket knives or any type of sharp objects that have a weapon shape are not allowed in carry on baggage.

So It is not a sharp idea to bring a knife through the security checkpoint, because TSA will likely take it away ( confiscate it ).

However, you can have a knife in your checked bag and should be protected and wrapped securely to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.

And as always the TSA claims the final decision stays for the TSA officer to decide if an item is allowed or not in both carry on or checked baggage.

What Size Knife Can You Carry-on a Plane?

Can you bring a small pocket knife to carry-on baggage.

Actually small pocket knives are not allowed in carry-on baggage. All kinds of knives are banned inside your bag or in your pocket even if they are kitchen knives or with small blades.

If you want to bring a knife as a gift or for memories, you can pack it and protect it well inside your checked bag, or ship it to your destination.

Just don’t risk taking a knife in carry-on baggage, that may cause some inconvenience for you in the security checkpoint.

The TSA already proposed to permit small knives in carry on baggage, knives with blades shorter than 2.36in (6cm) and narrower than 0.5in into plane cabins, but TSA canceled the rule because of the large disagreement and the resistance from flight attendants and the public.

What Size Knife Is Legal To Carry-on a Plane?

There is no permitted size of knives in carry-on baggage, so all knives, regardless of their size, must be placed in checked baggage.

Unless you want to take a small plastic knife for your children or for other purposes, most airlines allow small plastic knives in carry-on bags and onboard the airplane.

Can You Bring a Knife On a Plane In Checked Baggage?

Pocket knifes and other kinds of knives are permitted in checked baggage; sharp objects in general must be protected and packed perfectly so the knife won’t cause injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.

If you are traveling with any other kind of knife you should always check the state or the country you are traveling to as knives have different regulations.

Important: The bigger and dangerous your knife is, the more precaution you should take at your destinations, make sure that you do not possess a knife without a reason.

Read also : Do You Have To Declare Knives In Checked Luggage?

Are Pen Knives Allowed On Planes?

Just like normal knives, pen knives are considered sharp objects so you can’t take them in carry-on baggage and through the security checkpoint.

You can take pen knives only in checked baggage, ensure that you they are well protected to avoid them damaged or break during the transportation.

How to Pack a Pocket Knife In a Checked Bag?

It is honestly to be careful when you put any sharp object in your checked bag, for your safety and your items, and for the safety of the luggage handlers or the airport security when inspecting your baggage if it is required.

Also if you have an expensive knife it is preferable to not send It in checked baggage, the airline baggage handlers may mishandle your knife, in addition to the stories from passengers that their expensive items got missed in their check baggage.

Most airlines will not take the responsibility of losing any expensive items, other-ways if you want to place a cheap $10 pocket knife in your checked baggage we have outlined some of the best ways to pack it inside your bag.

You can either put your knife in a solid piece of paper or cardboard and Wrap it up in tape until you notice that it is completely covered and is safe to handle.

Other ways you can use a knife travel case that fits your knife, and you don’t need to wrap it or add type.

I have one similar for this Asaya Chef Knife Roll Bag which makes my life easy not just when I’m traveling with may sharp items but also in my everyday life, it holds all my necessary items in addition of my knife i put also scissors, and sometimes even a small wire cuter which i use when camping. 

Can You Take a Knife In Checked Baggage On International Flights?

Can you take a knife on a plane to usa.

Knives are allowed in checked baggage in most international airlines , but carrying knives in each country differs and local police jurisdictions apply different restrictions on carrying these kinds of weapons.

Within the US For example Switchblade knives and other spring-loaded knives are prohibited and are not allowed for possession, and may be subject to seizure if you bring them to the United States.

Can You Take A Knife On A Plane Uk?

You can take a knife on a plane in the UK but you should always consider the UK Government law on possessing knives. It’s illegal to possess a banned knife or weapon without any reason.

Final Thoughts

All kinds of knives are not allowed in carry-on baggage, and there are no restrictions on traveling with pocket or normal knives in checked baggage.

For passengers traveling with other kinds of knives like swords for training purposes, work or galleries may need to take by consideration the local law and provide a reason for taking such items to the destination.

We hope this helps

Happy travels

People also ask:

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Tips for Traveling with Knives in Europe

“Can I Bring My Knife to Europe?”

Since I write about travel, and about knives, I receive many emails from readers asking this question. I understand. You always have a knife handy. It’s your basic tool. How do you open packages, or cut anything? How can you get through your day without a knife? What if you need your knife to punch out the window of an overturned bus, or escape from a burning building?

What about that picnic next to the Canal du Midi, or on the train? You don’t want to be reduced to ripping and tearing at salami, cheese and baguettes with teeth and nails. You need your knife. But you don’t know laws and regulations in Europe and you’re a law-abiding person. So can you take your knife with you?

Yes, you can. But there are some things you need to know. In the United States, laws and regulations concerning knives are a confusing patchwork that varies from state to state, town to town, and which sometimes make no sense whatsoever. It is not possible to travel from California to New York with any kind of knife without violating a law or regulation in some place along the way.

Few of those laws and regulations are actually enforced. Enforcement is up to decisions made by an individual police officer. Those decisions will vary from officer to officer, and most importantly, according to his perception of you and the situation.

European Knife Regulations: A Primer

It is similar in Europe. The European Union is made up of almost 30 countries, each with its own laws, customs and regulations, which like in the United States, can seem confusing and senseless. As in the Unites States, enforcement of those laws and regulations is dependent upon the decisions of the individual police officer or security person.

I’ve worked and traveled in Europe for decades, and lived there for the past 10 years. I’ve written for BLADE Magazine and for the KNIVES annual book for almost 20 years, and have written two books on knives: The Tactical Knife and Survival Knives . As a result, I’ve met many folks in the European knife community—knifemakers, bushcraft enthusiasts, and so on.

I know many people who work in the security services and police departments in many European countries, and have talked with them about travelers carrying knives . What follows are my personal experiences and opinions based on traveling and living in almost every country in the European Union, and some that are not members of the Union. I am not a lawyer. I offer no legal advice.

German Knife Laws

Some examples of regulations concerning knives in Europe: In Germany a person may not carry on his person any folding knife with a locking blade. He can, however, carry a fixed blade up to 3½ inches long.

French Knife Laws

In France a person may not carry on his person any object that can be, or is, used as a weapon. That includes France’s famous Opinel or Laguiole knives, which are national icons and are in the pockets of every third Frenchman.

Spanish Knife Laws

Spain has considerable history as a knife culture and has knives of all kinds available for purchase pretty much everywhere – including village bars, and a confusing morass of regulations that my friends, who are Spanish police officers, cannot understand or explain.

UK Knife Laws

In the United Kingdom, there was a recent attempt to prohibit chef’s knives from having a point. That regulation did not pass.

My understanding of the current UK laws is that you must have a reason to have a knife, such as being a carpenter. Locking folders are not allowed. Bushcrafters carrying fixed blades while on the way to do some bushcraft seem to get a pass.

Danish Knife Laws

In Denmark a person may not have any folding knife with a blade lock, or that opens with one hand. Wait! That regulation was just changed. Locking folders are OK now, for today.

European Knife Laws by Region

Attitudes about knives also vary by region. Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Turkey are much more liberal about knives than in Western Europe. I’ll delve more into that later.

European Knife Law Tips

What’s a European traveler to do? How could anyone know or conform to all of the different laws and regulations while traveling through four or five countries? You cannot. So, you have two choices:

• Choose not to carry a knife.
• Use some common sense.

You can stop reading now if you select choice number one.

ML (my wife and companion of many adventures) and I always travel in Europe (and every place else) with knives, carrying at least two each, and often more. We frequently rent holiday apartments and live for a month or so in various places where we shop, cook and settle in to experience local life. The kitchens in those apartments never have usable knives.

Common Sense and European Knife Laws

We also teach survival and bushcraft classes during which we make shelters, primitive tools and so on. During the past year I’ve been attacked twice by feral dog packs in the Balkans. On one occasion I had no stick and my knife was my only defense. Often I’m toting a half-dozen or so knives that I’m reviewing for various publications. We need our knives.

Many Americans we meet traveling in Europe also need their knives, the ones who have knives. In addition to the practical everyday uses of a knife and its indispensable use in disasters, a blade can provide steely comfort in a dark and lonely place, and not only from dog packs.

A young American woman, a solo world traveler I wrote about in my recent book, Essential Survival Gear , used her J.A. Henckels paring knife for daily camp chores while hiking in coastal mountains in Turkey, and was glad to have her little blade one night when a crowd of drunken men made her very uncomfortable.

A retired American who I met in Romania used his Benchmade 710 to cut the fuel line on his BMW motorcycle while doing some repairs, and for frequent picnics, and one dark night to confront two muggers, who then decided to find easier prey. Potentially violent incidents like this are rare. Europe in general is safe for travelers, arguably more so than in the United States. But hey, you never know.

So how do I and other folks travel in and through European countries with knives and not run afoul of the law? We do so by using common sense and being sensible in our selection of knives, and by not doing stupid things such as going to a sketchy bar, getting drunk, hitting on a local girl, and when her boyfriend, also drunk, forcefully objects, waving a knife around and threatening him.

In Spain I saw three guys passing a bottle of wine and a folding knife around, cutting bread and cheese while picnicking at the beach. It was all good, except they were talking loudly, arguing with each other and annoying the folks around them. When one fellow politely objected to their behavior, one of the idiots grabbed the knife, shook it at the follow and yelled, “Allahu Akbar!” Then he collapsed laughing, as did his friends.

This incident didn’t end well. Personal demeanor, behavior and appearance affect how a person is perceived and treated by security people, and everyone else.

Choosing Knives to Bring to Western Europe

As to knife selection, attitudes in Western Europe regarding knives and security have changed considerably in recent years due to many terrorist attacks, some of which have been carried out with knives. As a consequence, although not yet common, there are security checks in some Western European train and bus stations, and of course in all airports.

We’ve never encountered a security check at an Eastern European train or bus station. If you encounter one of these security checks and have a black, 10-inch blade with “Zombie Killer” etched in steel and stuffed into your waistband, it will not endear you to the security people.

When ML and I travel, in Western Europe or elsewhere, we each always have a tiny folder with a locking blade of about 2 inches on our persons and a small fixed blade in our bags. These knives look inoffensive and have caused no alarms with security people, or anyone else. Probably folders with blades a bit larger, single blade or multi-bladed, such as small Swiss Army Knives, would also be seen as inoffensive.

Most regulations address carrying a knife on the person, with knives in bags being considered differently. Security people also seem to see a difference between carrying on your person and in a bag. Maybe not in all instances, but this has been our experience. I’ve never seen a knife in a day bag with bread and cheese and other picnic things, whether my knife or someone else’s, cause scrutiny.

Our tiny folders are for everyday tasks, sometimes including food preparation when we don’t care to get out our fixed blades. ML can girdle a baguette and reduce it to slices in less than a minute with her Spyderco Cricket . My Spyderco Dragonfly will slice salami, cheese, tomatoes and so on about as well as my fixed blade. They will also serve in an emergency, if you know what you’re doing.

These little folders and others in the same size range or a bit larger are convenient everyday carry knives. We use the fixed blades in our kitchens, for field work and in emergency situations. I also carry a small red-handle Swiss Army Knife (SAK) with a locking main blade and the all-important corkscrew. We add to this selection if needed, say, a machete in the tropics.

Our day bags are also our ready bags, or bug-out bags, and are always with us. Our fixed blades have much daily utility and will serve in an emergency, such as having to cut through a locked steel fire door to escape a high-rise fire, serve as a climbing aid to escape freezing water, or fend off a pack of feral dogs.

I’ve done all of these things and know that, if needed, our fixed blades will provide us with a measure of protection.

Western European Security Checks, Police Searches and Knives

We’ve only ever been questioned about our knives during a few security checks. Before boarding a high-speed train in Barcelona, we put our bags through the X-ray machine and walked through the metal detector. One of the security officers asked if I had a knife. I said I did. He asked to see it. I first took out my Spyderco Dragonfly, intending to next get my Fallkniven F1 out of my bag. The security guy looked at the little Dragonfly, smiled, and said, “Oh never mind. It’s so little. Just put it back in your pocket.” He waved us through and said nothing about my F1, or ML’s Sypderco Cricket and Fred Perrin Street Beat.

Clearly, he made his evaluation based on our appearance and behavior, as well as our choice of knives. On another occasion, while disembarking from a bus in Lyon, France, we encountered an intensive security check due to an alert that a terrorist suspect might be on our bus. Results were the same as in Barcelona, as they have been on other occasions. European police, like American police, evaluate the person and the situation when making a decision. We do not appear to be a threat, nor do our knives. When asked, we give a straightforward explanation of why we have knives, and have had no problems.

Carrying Knives in Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Turkey

In Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Turkey, attitudes concerning knives are very different. Full-size tactical folders are popular for everyday carry, and no one seems alarmed by them. Fixed blades that are 6 to 10 inches long are preferred for field activities, hunting, backpacking and so on, and for use in villages to do everyday village things, such as killing pigs and goats.

I asked a friend, who is a Bulgarian undercover cop, what the laws were governing carrying knives in Bulgaria, and what the police attitude was. I also explained the regulations in Western Europe. He said, “We don’t concern ourselves with such silly things as that. We don’t care what kind of knife you have. But, if someone attacks and harms another person with a knife, or any weapon, then we do care.”

A former Czech special forces officer now in a civilian security service said much the same thing.

We’ve only been questioned about knives in the East once, at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. Going through first layer security at the entrance to the airport, I tossed a bag on the counter containing a kindjal, a yatagan, a 10-inch bowie , and a half-dozen or so tactical folders and fixed-blade survival knives, all for field work and photography for articles and books.

The security guy said, “You have quite a few knives in your bag.”

“Yes,” I replied, “I do.”

“You’re going to check them, not carry them on, right?”

“Of course.”

“Have a nice day.”

Obviously we check all knives before boarding a commercial aircraft.

Trust Your Internal Compass

If you like to drink and hang out in sketchy bars and clubs, leave your knife in your room. Don’t try to use your knife as a weapon, except in extreme circumstances when your own life is actually at stake. Doing so is considered lethal force everywhere, and you will have to defend your actions. Again, use common sense. You have an internal compass that points in the right direction. Pay attention to it. This approach has worked for us. Your results may vary. No guarantee is offered or implied.

Get the Most Out of Your European Trip

Before your trip, use the Internet to locate knife shows. There are many all over Europe. Attend one.

Perhaps visit one of the famous knife-producing towns: Thiers, France; Solingen, Germany; and Maniago, Italy. You’ll meet friendly people with a common interest. Do go. You’ll have a great time. Bon voyage.

Keep Learning About Knife Laws — in the United States

NEXT STEP: Download Your Free KNIFE GUIDE Issue of BLADE Magazine

Copied on the police’s website and Google translated a bit about what applies in Sweden. “It is forbidden to have knives, stabbing weapons, cutting weapons and other dangerous objects in a public place, within school grounds or in a vehicle in a public place unless the possession is justified. The prohibition applies to objects that are intended to be used as weapons in crimes against life or health. ”

“Examples of exceptions to the ban: (when can possession be considered justified)

Military carrying knife for uniform Craftsman using knife at work Mushroom pickers who carry a suitable knife during hiking”

If you are traveling in Europe, take the opportunity to visit one of the knife events. On the European Blades website there is a list of some ( http://www.europeanblades.com ). As I work with Knife Expo 2024, Vadstena, Sweden, I know how much fun it is with long-distance guests. Therefore, I welcome everyone both to us and to all other events.

I wish that had been my experience flying in Turkey! I bought a beautiful Turkish dagger with a Damascus steel blade and a carved wooden horse head as the hilt at the Grand Bazaar, and an airport security officer confiscated it for being “too sharp” — even though of course I was checking it, not attempting to carry it on. He really just stole it but I had no recourse to get it back.

You are completely wrong for Germany. For normal daily carry :- Fixed blade knives up to 12cm are allowed except daggers and karambits (knives specifically classed as weapons by law or by the federal police BKA). Locking (and of course non-locking) folding knives have no restriction on size at all as long as they do not have any kind of one hand opening aid. Other knives not allowed as daily carry are allowed with good reasons such as the massive daggers used by hunters which otherwise fall in the weapons category.

Heathrow City Transfer is your ideal solution if you’re concerned about traveling from the airport to your final destination during your visit to London. They are a professional company specializing in airport transfers and port transfers for cruises.

The short summary of German laws near the beginning are false.

GERMAN KNIFE LAWS: LEGAL CARRY

Knives that can be legally possessed and carried:

Fixed blades with blade length under 12 cm (4.72 in.) can be carried visible or concealed. The measurement is taken from the tip to the most forward parts of the scales, the length of the sharp edge is not important. Folding knives that can be opened with one hand and do not lock the blade. Folding knives that ca be opened with two hands only and lock the blade.

I will be in Switzerland this summer and want to buy some knives while there. Will they cause a problem in my carry on or should I have them shipped?

To leave certainly no problem, the knives offered in stores are legal to buy and carry in Switzerland. Exceptions are automatic knives, butterflys, fixed daggers, but these are not offered. Klotzli in Bern is a good adress.

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Can You Bring an EDC Knife on a Plane? Yes — if You Check It

We know you want to bring your precious blade with you on travel, and you can if you follow these guidelines.

By Sean Tirman

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission.  Learn more

For many everyday carry enthusiasts , a pocket knife is an essential, necessary part of any loadout — so much so that some won’t go anywhere without one. While incredibly useful for numerous everyday tasks, knives do come with some baggage. After all, they’re not just tools; they can also be used as weapons and have been for thousands of years.

There are some occasions and activities in which you might want to reconsider bringing a knife at all — or at least be careful of how you choose to bring your knife along.

One of the major ones is air travel. And while the USA’s TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has brought the hammer down on safety ever since 9/11, you can actually bring a knife on a plane — if it’s in your checked luggage.

There are no knives that are OK for carry-on

Let’s get this out of the way as clearly as we can. Under no circumstances should you try to bring a knife through any TSA security checkpoint on your person . End of story. The TSA has very strict guidelines regarding any and all sharp objects , and not for no reason . Essentially, it boils down to this: if it’s sharp and useful, you’re not allowed to bring it with you on a plane.

At the very least, trying to bring a knife through a TSA security checkpoint will get that knife confiscated. However, the surrounding circumstances and the appraisal of the agents (and potentially law enforcement personnel involved) could lead to detainment — and you could even be arrested and charged .

What about multi-tools (and other EDC)?

But multi-tools aren’t knives , you might say. Yes, that’s technically true. But the TSA’s guidelines apply to anything with a sharp edge, and that includes any blade (or sharp implement) that might be attached to, you guessed it, a multi-tool.

Furthermore, the rules are up to the interpretation of whatever TSA officer you happen to be dealing with. If your multi-tool (or any other implement) has an awl (a pointed tool traditionally used to pierce holes in leather), a saw, large scissors (those under four inches long are considered okay), a gut hook (used for fishing purposes), etc, it’s going to be at risk of confiscation.

And if that happens, you’re not going to get it back. If the TSA is playing a game of better-safe-than-sorry, so should you — just don’t try and bring it along… unless you plan to do it within the TSA’s guidelines.

A convenient work-around: Just check it

You’re not entirely out of luck. There’s a very simple means of bringing your favorite bladed tools along with you whenever you fly: stashing them in a checked bag .

Because the bags are taken by airline agents and put through separate TSA security checks and not returned to you again until you reach your destination, the rules for what you can stash are different.

For instance, you can’t bring alcohol with you through a TSA security checkpoint on your person or in a carry-on . You can, however, put a bottle of booze in your checked luggage. The same goes for knives, tools, and anything other everyday carry implements with sharp edges on them. This includes corkscrews and box cutters, even ice axes, meat cleavers, swords and throwing stars ( you can see the full list here ).

Even if you do bring your knife along with you to wherever you travel, you’re also s till at the mercy of the laws local to that area . You might successfully fly with your favorite automatic OTF knife to California, but if you’re carrying it around with you are breaking the law, and running the risk of escalating whatever interactions you may have with the local police. Make sure you know the local laws before trying to bring your knife on a trip.

International travel is especially tricky

Just as you should know the local laws when traveling between states, that’s doubly true for international travel. Customs, both in the US and when entering other countries, functions much like an extra layer of security, and you’re required to make certain declarations — ranging from foodstuffs to automobiles and tons in-between — when traveling into other countries and when returning home. And, generally, the rules for what you can bring in and out are even stricter than those upheld by the TSA.

This is all to say that, not only should you know what you can and can’t bring with you, but it may just be better not to try and bring your knife along with you on international travel at all, even in a checked bag — unless you’re absolutely certain that no trouble will come of it. Just like local travel between states, the risk of being caught with a bladed tool when going through customs can be as light as a slap on the wrist or as severe as indefinite detainment. And that’s a pretty hefty risk vs. reward situation.

TSA-friendly EDC Tools

While the above hopefully serves as an informative wake-up call, it does seem a bit ho-hum and kind of disheartening. If you’re still determined, however, we’ve got one last piece of advice: skip the sneakiness, rule-bending and potentially extensive research and instead pick up some everyday carry gear that was made specifically with travel in mind.

Plenty of big-name brands in the knife and multi-tool space have already decided to deal with travel guidelines in their own way, usually by crafting a tool (or tools) designed to fall within the TSA’s strict guidelines — meaning you can travel with them without having to worry yourself at all. Below, we’ve gathered a few of our favorites that you can pick up and bring right through that TSA security checkpoint without fear of getting yourself into trouble.

Editor’s Note: There’s always the chance, no matter how small, that even a fully-TSA-compliant multi-tool could be confiscated; there’s just no way around it so long as there’s a human element.

Gerber Shard Keychain Multi-Tool

• $6.69 at Amazon

Victorinox Jetsetter Swiss Army Knife

• $24.00 at swissarmy.com

Leatherman Style PS Multi-Tool

• $34.95 at Leatherman

The James Brand Halifax Keychain Multi-Tool

• $49.00 at thejamesbrand.com

Gerber Multi-Plier 600 Bladeless Multi-Tool

• $105.00 at gerbergear.com

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Can You Take a Pocket Knife on a Plane?

By Adam Roach November 07, 2022

Pocket knives are among the most versatile everyday carry tools. While it can be tempting to carry your pocket knife everywhere, many establishments and regulatory bodies restrict knives, including airports and the TSA. Can you take a pocket knife on a plane?

If you want to bring a pocket knife while traveling by plane, the first step is to become aware of the relevant laws and regulations.

Who Regulates Knives on Planes?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are the primary entities responsible for overseeing and enforcing knife regulations on planes in the United States.

After 9/11 and the passage of   stricter airport security rules   on September 13, 2001, the FAA imposed a total ban on knives inside a plane's cabin, regardless of size or blade material. This change came alongside several other measures aimed at improving airport security. Previously, carrying knives with a blade length under 4 inches, such as traditional Swiss Army knives, was legal.

The TSA announced in 2013 a rule change proposal that would have allowed non-locking knives with blades under 2.36 inches in length. However, significant pushback from multiple entities, including the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) and multiple congresspeople, resulted in the proposal's abandonment.

The   FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018   (HR 302) was signed into law on October 5, 2018, including the No Knives Ever Again provision, stipulating the TSA no longer has the authority to amend knife rules and authorize knives in an airport's sterile areas or inside aircraft cabins.

As of October 2022, the 2001-era total ban on knives inside plane cabins remains in force.

Can I Bring a Pocket Knife on a Plane?

According to the TSA   and all current laws, travelers may not bring any knife, bladed weapon, or any other sharp object inside the cabin of any commercial aircraft, including carry-on baggage, except for plastic butter knives or round-bladed butter knives.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a "TSA-approved knife," as there are for containers, toiletry bags, and luggage locks.

Potential Penalties for Violating TSA Knife Rules

If TSA personnel discovers banned items inside an individual's carry-on baggage in a prohibited area, the agency may impose civil penalties of   up to $13,910 per violation per person . Prohibited areas include security checkpoints, inside an airport's sterile area, or an aircraft cabin.

While travelers may not carry any knife on a plane in carry-ons, specific types of knives, bladed implements, and other sharp objects are prohibited. Bringing these items in your carry-on places you at risk of a civil penalty.

According to the TSA website , you risk a fine ranging from $360 to $2,090 if a TSA officer finds any of the following knives and bladed objects inside your carry-on bag:

Knives with blades that open automatically (e.g., switchblades)

Knives with blades that open via gravity (e.g., a butterfly knife)

Any double-edge knives or daggers (e.g., small tactical knives with spear-point blades)

Meat cleavers

Sabers, swords, fencing foils

Throwing stars (e.g., shuriken, so-called "death stars")

What Happens to Confiscated Knives?

If TSA agents confiscate items from travelers, the rules stipulate these items become the federal government's property. Most confiscated items are typically disposed of, donated to other organizations, or sold off at auctions.

Pocket knives are among the items the agency most commonly sells or auctions due to their durable nature. TSA typically packages items of the same type (e.g., bundles of small knives, Swiss Army knives, etc.) and uses platforms such as GovDeals.com, PublicSurplus.com, or GSAAuctions.gov to sell or auction them off.

Can I Transport a Pocket Knife in Checked Baggage?

While the 2001-era ban on knives in carry-on luggage remains in force, it is possible to travel by plane with a pocket knife if you leave it in checked baggage. This method is the only way to bring a pocket knife or a blade without breaking TSA regulations.

The TSA doesn't impose any limits on the knife type, material, or blade length that can be transported inside checked bags.

Allowed items include your EDC pocket knife, traditional fixed-blade knives, kitchen knives, box cutters, folding knives, machetes, and even swords, shuriken, curved-blade knives (e.g., karambit knives), and other exotic or unusual bladed weapons.

However, the TSA imposes a few rules and regulations that travelers must observe when transporting pocket knives, blades, and other sharp objects in checked baggage. The   "What Can I Bring?"   section of the TSA website states that all sharp objects should be sheathed or wrapped securely to protect baggage handlers and inspectors from potential injuries.

While TSA doesn't specify what constitutes acceptable sheathing or secure wrapping, TSA may disapprove of transporting a pocket knife or any other bladed implement with an exposed edge.

Do I Have to Declare My Pocket Knife?

TSA regulations require travelers to   declare any firearms and ammunition   transported in checked baggage. However, these rules do not apply to bladed objects like your pocket knife.

Whether your bag contains a small pocket knife (e.g., Swiss Army knife) or a large fixed-blade hunting knife, the rules do not require you to declare knives to TSA agents. The agency's only requirement is to keep your pocket knife and other sharp items sheathed or securely wrapped.

Can I Travel Internationally With a Pocket Knife?

Although TSA officers may let you through if you follow all regulations and keep your pocket knife properly sheathed, folded, and stored in a checked bag, it does not guarantee that your knife is legal for you to possess or carry at the destination airport.

Review all local laws applicable to your destination country regarding knife possession and carrying. Even if you could board the flight, knife laws vary from country to country, and local police at the destination airport will enforce knife laws applicable to their jurisdiction.

For example, when boarding an international flight from Dallas, Texas, to Berlin, Germany, even if your pocket knife is legal for you to possess in Texas, German knife laws may consider the same knife illegal to possess or carry in public. According to the   German Weapons Act (WaffG) , specific types of knives fall under the legal definition of a banned weapon (may not possess or carry):

Throwing stars (shuriken)

Butterfly knives (balisong)

Flick knives (switchblades) unless the knife blade is single-edged and under 8.5 centimeters (approx. 3.34 inches) in length

Fist knives (push knives)

Knives designed to resemble everyday items

Find the Most Reliable EDC Pocket Knives at Uppercut Tactical

At Uppercut Tactical, we offer American citizens the best selection of pocket knives, tactical knives, and other EDC gear at the most affordable prices possible. Our values are guided by preparedness and patriotism, from product selection to customer care.

Whether you prefer fixed-blade knives, folding knives, or OTF knives, we have a product for you.   Browse our extensive selection of knives   today and find the ideal blade for your needs.

This information is presented as a brief synopsis of the law and not as legal advice. Uppercut Tactical is not a legal service provider. Use of the site does not create a lawyer/client relationship. Laws are interpreted differently by enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, and judges. We suggests that you consult legal counsel for guidance.

• Tags: Knives

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Can You Take Pocket Knives on a Plane?

• January 29, 2024

Arthur Grant

When preparing for air travel, many passengers wonder about the rules and regulations regarding carrying pocket knives on a plane. The issue of whether or not pocket knives are allowed on airplanes is a common source of confusion for travelers. In this article, we will explore the guidelines set by aviation authorities and provide clarity on this important matter.

Understanding Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Regulations

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the authority that sets the guidelines for what is permissible on planes. According to the TSA, pocket knives are not allowed in carry-on bags but can be transported in checked baggage. The TSA’s policy on sharp objects states that any knife, except for plastic or round-bladed butter knives, must be in checked luggage.

WHAT TYPES OF KNIVES AROUND ALLOWED ON A PLANE?

Which Knives Can You Bring on a Plane?

When considering which knives you can bring on a plane, it’s essential to understand the specific regulations set by the TSA or the corresponding authority in your destination country. Generally, non-locking pocket knives with blades no longer than 2.36 inches are permitted, but only in checked baggage and they must be securely wrapped or placed in a protective case.

On the other hand, plastic or round-bladed butter knives are typically allowed in both carry-on and checked luggage. However, most other types of knives are strictly prohibited in carry-on bags and may only be transported in checked luggage under certain conditions, ensuring they are properly packed to avoid accidents. Always double-check the latest guidelines before traveling to ensure compliance and a smooth journey.

Types of Knives Allowed in Checked Luggage

If you’re a traveler with a penchant for outdoor pursuits like camping or hunting, you might consider packing a knife for your adventures. While it’s a no-go for carry-on bags, certain types of knives are acceptable in checked luggage.

• Fixed Blade Knives : Known for their sturdy design with a blade firmly fixed to the handle, these knives are acceptable in checked luggage provided the blade is 7 inches or shorter. Their multifunctional nature, useful in activities ranging from camping and hunting to fishing, makes them more of a tool than a threat.
• Kitchen Knives : Indispensable in culinary settings, from home kitchens to professional chef stations, these knives are generally not viewed as security hazards. Nonetheless, types with specialized blades like serrated or curved ones might face additional checks by certain airlines or in specific destinations.

• Pocket Knives : Often employed for a range of outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, and even routine tasks like opening boxes or snipping threads, pocket knives are seen as practical tools rather than security risks, making them suitable for checked luggage.
• Folding Knives : Characterized by blades that neatly fold into the handle, these knives are permissible in checked baggage as long as the blade does not exceed 4 inches in length.
• Multi-tools : These versatile gadgets often include a knife among their many features and are allowed in checked luggage, provided the knife component does not surpass 2.36 inches in length.

It’s important to note that any knife with a blade length exceeding the mentioned limits is strictly forbidden in checked luggage. Moreover, knives perceived as weapons, such as switchblades or daggers, are completely off-limits in both carry-on and checked luggage. Always verify the latest airline and destination-specific regulations to ensure your travel goes smoothly.

Types Of Knives Prohibited On Planes

Bringing such knives in your checked luggage could lead to a troubling encounter with airport security, potentially involving legal ramifications.

Knife regulations are complex and can differ significantly across various nations. However, a consensus exists among many authorities regarding the prohibition of certain types of knives, typically due to their potential as weapons.

Here is a list of knives commonly banned on airplanes:

Switchblades

Recognized by their spring-loaded blades that pop open at the press of a button, switchblades are not allowed on planes. They are seen as dangerous due to their easy concealment and quick deployment.

Balisongs or Butterfly Knives

These knives feature a blade that pivots out from the handle. They are prohibited on planes, often classified as a security risk due to their swift opening mechanism.

Disguised Knives

Crafted to appear as everyday items like pens or belt buckles, these covert knives are banned because they can be secretly carried on board and used to cause harm.

Throwing Stars or Ninja Stars

As weapons designed for throwing, these are not permitted on planes, primarily due to their potential to injure

Straight Razors

With their fixed and elongated sharp blades, straight razors are seen as potential weapons and are thus not allowed.

Swords or Sabres

The carriage of sharp-edged weapons, including swords and sabres, is generally prohibited by most countries, reflecting their potential danger in a public setting.

Carrying any of these items during air travel could lead to serious legal consequences. It’s always best to familiarize yourself with the specific regulations of the airline and the laws of the departing and destination countries to ensure a hassle-free journey.

Pocket Knives and TSA Regulations

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) strictly prohibits passengers from carrying pocket knives and other similar sharp objects in their carry-on luggage due to security concerns. This policy includes pocket knives with blades that lock into place, as these are considered potential threats in the confined space of an aircraft cabin.

The TSA’s regulations are designed to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of all passengers and crew during flight. While these items are not permitted in carry-on bags, they can be packed in checked luggage, provided they are properly sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors. Travelers must be aware of and comply with these regulations to avoid delays and ensure a smooth security check process at the airport.

Permitted Knives

When you’re packing for a flight and want to take a knife with you, it’s really important to know what’s allowed. The TSA says it’s okay to put some kinds of knives in your checked bags (the ones that go in the plane’s cargo hold). But there are specific rules about this. You can pack non-locking pocket knives if their blades are no longer than 2.36 inches.

Even so, you can’t just toss them in your bag. You need to wrap these knives carefully or put them in a secure case. This is to make sure they don’t accidentally hurt someone or damage something in your luggage or the airplane. Remember, these rules are there to keep everyone’s journey safe and smooth, so it’s really important to follow them closely.

Tips for Travelers:

• Check TSA Guidelines : Before packing for a flight, it’s crucial to review the latest guidelines provided by the TSA. This will help ensure that you are aware of the specific rules regarding pocket knives and other sharp objects.
• Use Secure Packaging : If you need to transport a permitted pocket knife in your checked baggage, make sure to securely wrap and pack it to prevent any accidental injuries to baggage handlers or security personnel.
• Consider Alternative Options : If possible, consider leaving your pocket knife at home to avoid any potential issues with security checkpoints. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase a knife at your destination if it is necessary for your trip.

International Travel Regulations

When planning an international journey, it’s crucial to understand that the rules about carrying pocket knives on airplanes can differ greatly from one country to another. Every nation has its own set of security measures and restrictions, especially when it comes to items that could be seen as risky, like knives. Before you pack your bags, take some time to look up the guidelines for each country you’ll be visiting or passing through. This includes understanding their policies for both carry-on and checked luggage.

The rules might be much tighter compared to what you’re used to. Certain countries might not allow you to bring any kind of knife in your checked baggage, not just your carry-on. Others might have specific rules about the size or type of knife you can bring. Not knowing these rules can lead to unpleasant situations like having your items taken away, paying fines, or even facing legal problems in severe cases.

To make your travel smooth and hassle-free, it’s a good idea to do this homework well in advance. You can usually find this information on the official websites of the country’s airport or national security agencies. If the information isn’t clear or you have doubts, consider reaching out to the airline you’re flying with, the airport authorities, or even the embassy or consulate of the country you’re visiting. They can give you the most accurate and up-to-date advice. Remember, being well-informed and prepared is the best way to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.

Safety Considerations

When you’re getting ready to fly, keeping everyone safe should be your top priority. This means you need to be careful about what you pack, especially when it comes to things like knives. The TSA and other groups that look after airplane safety have made rules about what you can bring. These rules are there to make sure everyone on the plane is safe.

Always remember that even small things like pocket knives can be seen as dangerous on a plane. This is why there are strict rules about them. When you’re packing, think about these rules and follow them closely. This isn’t just about following the law; it’s about making sure that you and everyone else on the plane can have a worry-free trip.

If you’re ever unsure about what you can bring, it’s much better to leave it out of your bag or check the rules again. Most times, you can find these rules on the TSA’s website or you can ask the airline you’re flying with. By taking these extra steps to pack safely, you’re doing your part to keep the skies friendly and safe for everyone.

In conclusion, the TSA prohibits the carrying of most pocket knives in carry-on luggage but allows certain types of knives to be transported in checked baggage. However, travelers should always verify the regulations specific to their travel route and exercise caution when packing sharp objects. By staying informed and compliant with relevant guidelines, passengers can help maintain a secure and efficient air travel environment.

Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs)

1. Can I bring a pocket knife in my carry-on luggage when flying? Answer: No, pocket knives are generally not allowed in carry-on luggage when flying. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prohibits most types of knives in the passenger cabin of an aircraft.

2. Are there any exceptions for carrying pocket knives on a plane? Answer: Yes, the TSA allows certain types of knives to be transported in checked baggage. Non-locking pocket knives with blades that are 2.36 inches or less in length are permitted in checked luggage.

3. Can I bring a Swiss Army knife in my carry-on bag? Answer: Swiss Army knives with blades that lock into place are generally not allowed in carry-on luggage. However, non-locking blades that meet the length requirement can be packed in checked baggage.

4. What should I do if I accidentally bring a pocket knife in my carry-on bag to the airport? Answer: If you inadvertently bring a pocket knife in your carry-on bag, inform the security personnel at the airport. They can provide guidance on how to properly handle the situation.

5. Are there specific rules for international travel regarding pocket knives on airplanes? Answer: Yes, regulations regarding pocket knives on airplanes may vary by country. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the specific rules and guidelines of the countries you are traveling to and from.

6. Can I pack a pocket knife in my checked baggage for an international flight? Answer: If the country of your destination permits the transportation of pocket knives, you can pack a permitted knife in your checked baggage. However, it’s essential to research and comply with the regulations of the destination country.

7. What are the consequences of attempting to bring a prohibited pocket knife on a plane? Answer: Attempting to bring a prohibited pocket knife on a plane can result in confiscation of the item, potential fines, and delays at the airport security checkpoint.

8. Can I transport a collectible or antique pocket knife on a plane? Answer: Collectible or antique pocket knives may be subject to specific regulations. It’s advisable to check with the TSA or relevant authorities to determine the proper procedures for transporting such items.

9. Are there any alternatives to bringing a pocket knife on a plane? Answer: If possible, consider leaving your pocket knife at home to avoid potential issues with security checkpoints. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase a knife at your destination if it is necessary for your trip.

10. What should I do if I have a legitimate need to transport a pocket knife on a plane? Answer: If you have a legitimate need to transport a pocket knife, such as for work or specific activities at your destination, research the regulations and guidelines of the TSA and the destination country. Properly pack the knife in accordance with the rules for checked baggage and be prepared to communicate with security personnel if needed.

With a profound expertise in all kinds of knives and a specialized focus on knife sharpening, I've established myself as a leading figure in the knife community. My journey began with a keen interest in the multifaceted world of knives, spanning from culinary masterpieces to tactical tools. This passion led me to explore and master the art and science of knife sharpening, blending age-old techniques with cutting-edge methods to ensure optimal performance of every blade. My commitment to sharing this wealth of knowledge led to the creation of a dedicated blog, where I engage with a community of knife enthusiasts. Through this platform, I offer a wealth of resources including detailed reviews, insightful tutorials, and the latest in knife trends and innovations. My aim is to educate and inspire, providing valuable information on the proper care, maintenance, and usage of knives, catering to both professionals and hobbyists alike.

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Except knives with rounded-blades, blunt edges without serration/teeth such as butter knives, or plastic cutlery. 

Any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.