Pocket knives are one of the greatest inventions in human history. This simple device makes the most useful tool ever available to you in seconds! The first pocket knives were made about 2500 years ago, and over the centuries, they have undergone some serious improvements. Now, there are many ways you can put a knife in your pocket. So many, in fact, that it can be hard to find the best pocket knife for your needs.
To help you out, I’ve put together a list of the best pocket knives out there today. I’ve broken it down into categories based on mechanism, purpose, and budget.
Let’s do this!
11 Best Pocket Knives
- Best Overall Pocket Knife – Benchmade Bugout
- Best Folding Pocket Knife – Microtech MSI
- Best Automatic Pocket Knife – Pro-Tech TR-3
- Best Out-The-Front Pocket Knife – Microtech Ultratech
- Best Pocket Multi-Tool – Leatherman ARC
- Best Pocket Fixed Blade Knife – Benchmade Dacian
- Best Tactical Pocket Knife – Spyderco Paramilitary 2
- Best Traditional Pocket Knife – Buck 110
- Best Outdoor Pocket Knife – Ontario RAT Model 1
- Best Budget Pocket Knife – Kershaw Iridium
- Best High-End Pocket Knife – Chris Reeve Sebenza 31
Best Overall Pocket Knife – Benchmade Bugout
Much has been said about the Bugout at Blade HQ, but it’s hard not to love it. It’s just the right size, super lightweight, made well with quality materials. Its usable design that lends itself to almost any cutting task. There’s a good reason it’s one of the best-selling knives in Blade HQ history. From the looks of things, it will remain a favorite for years to come!
Excellent
They should make six stars available for this knife cause it deserves it. You kinda feel like you are holding the culmination of human knifemaking skill in your hand. It really resonated with me, just fits, and feels perfect. Agile, sturdy, smooth wicked sharp. Mine cut a 6.2 out of the box, pretty similar to the new #11 xacto blade at 5.9. Stropped it to a 6 even, I don’t have the skill to go further, but yeah. Amazing.★★★★★ Mike U. on Feb 26, 2024
Best Folding Pocket Knife – Microtech MSI
Microtech changed the knife game when they released the MSI in 2024. This knife uses the new Ram-Lok. This lock looks like crossbar-style locks, but instead of round lock bar, it uses a solid steel block! Combined with Microtech’s industry leading design and manufacturing quality, the Ram-Lok is one of the best locks out there. At the time of writing, there are three Ram-Lok models, and all of them are incredible, but I gave the pick for Best Folder to the MSI because of its useful Sheepsfoot blade that lends itself well to EDC tasks. This knife was also voted the Knife of the Year during our 2023 Knife Awards by the Zirconium Tier of Blade HQ’s Blade Club. Very impressive!
This Thing Beast!
I have been wanting a Microtech for awhile now and finally pushed myself to get one as soon as I saw this one. Did some research and there was nothing but great reviews. I have a few Benchmades but man this thing is a beast! It’s comfortable to hold and I don’t even feel it in my pocket with it’s size. Recommend it to anyone that wants to buy their first Microtech!★★★★★ Ahkou X. on May 7, 2024
Best Automatic Pocket Knife – Pro-Tech TR-3
Pro-Tech started making the TR-3 over two decades ago, and in all that time, it’s still a best-seller. It’s simple, usable, and has bomb-proof (literally) build quality, so it’s a favorite of police and military personnel in every line of duty. In fact, Navy SEAL Teams 2 and 3 commissioned a special variant with a secondary safety lock for their missions! But you don’t have to be an elite operator to appreciate this knife, it’s just as good for everyday carry!
And if you can be patient, Pro-Tech is bringing a button lock manual version of the TR-3 to market later in 2024, and I NEED one. Hopefully, I can be patient too!
Buy Now
Don’t be like me and buy this several days before the sale. Buy it now! Thank me later. Great knife even at full price.★★★★★ Andy S. on Aug 24, 2024
Best Out-The-Front Pocket Knife – Microtech Ultratech
The Ultratech was first made almost 30 years ago, and still is best-in-class. Before the Ultratech, OTF knives existed, but they weren’t the kind of knives you’d depend on. That all changed when Tony Marfione revolutionized the mechanism with the Ultratech, and for decades now, it has been copied, imitated, and knocked off more than any other knife out there. But he didn’t stop there! This year, he announced the new Ultratech at Blade Show, featuring the Dual-Fuel mechanism and their new zero-blade-play lock!
feels wrong to leave the house without it
i love my microtech. it goes everywhere, and i mean everywhere with me. its a part of my everyday outfit. phone, wallet, keys, microtech. ive had to use it countless times while out and about, and it has never failed me.★★★★★ Humphrey E. on Nov 30, 2022
Best Pocket Multi-Tool – Leatherman ARC
The pliers-based multitool was first released by Tim Leatherman in 1983, and ever since, they have rained precipitously from brands the world over. But in 2023, Leatherman moved the iconic tool from the belt to the pocket with the ARC, featuring a CPM MagnaCut blade, the one-hand-operable FREE Technology, and a handy pocket clip to keep it close. If you like to have maximum utility in your knife, the ARC might be the most versatile thing you can put in your pocket!
Best Pocket Fixed Blade Knife – Benchmade Dacian
There are a ton of great compact fixed blades, but only the cream of the crop can make it in the pocket. In 2024, Benchmade released the Dacian, and it’s really good. It takes the kind of design you see on a folder and made it a fixed blade with MagnaCut steel and a micarta handle.
It’s an awesome knife, but what earned it a place on this list is its sheath. The sheath is molded from high-density plastic to allow the knife a snap-fit in either direction. It mounts to the pocket using an ultra-high retention clip, so you don’t have to push off the sheath with your thumb. Lastly, the sheath has a high back that helps guide the knife back into the sheath, even when you’re not looking. It’s a best-in-class pocket sheath for a best-in-class knife with a best-in-class warranty! What more could you ask for?
Best Tactical Pocket Knife – Spyderco Paramilitary 2
Tactical pocket knives aren’t just high-speed low-precision non-consensual tracheotomies. They need to cut ropes, extricate victims, dig out stuck bullet casings, and do a million other tasks too. That means that the best tactical pocket knife will have a lot in common with a simple EDC knife, and the Paramilitary 2 is just that. It is one-hand operable thanks to the Spyderco round hole opener, and its handle is super comfortable, even during long use. The PM2 uses Spyderco’s Compression Lock, which is just as simple as a liner lock, but adds much-needed strength and user safety. It has a CPM S45VN blade, known for its solid balance of all traits.
And when it needs to perform one of those aforementioned tracheotomies, its distal-tapered blade makes for a needle-like point, offering second-to-none piercing power.
Awesome Knife!
I finally hopped on the hype train for this knife and I couldn’t be happier. The weight and feel are PERFECT, still have to get used to the compression lock but it’s awesome while wearing gloves/working so your hand isn’t in the blade path. For military applications and EDC this thing is AWESOME. I was worried it would be too big but it fits in the hand perfectly and love the option to choke up! Lastly thank you BladeHQ for being a reputable knife store!!!★★★★★ Christian T. on Jul 5, 2024
Best Traditional Pocket Knife – Buck 110
I know modern generations hate to hear this, but in this case, it needs to be said: your grandpa was right. The Buck 110 really is that good, and you should totally get one. Sure, it’s over half a century old, but it’s the kind of knife that can keep on cutting for half a century or longer. This USA-made folder has a four-inch blade made of Bos Heat Treated 420 steel, so it has plenty of size for big cutting jobs, plenty of toughness for hard use and abuse, and plenty of edge retention for a day’s work. Its handle is made of beautiful African Ebony with rounded brass bolsters that give it just enough backweight to keep the knife in your hand. The
Buck 110 is still so popular because it can pretty much do it all, and best of all, you can get one for $65. It’s hard to beat!
Getting old with me
I have had mine for 50 years … it is aging waaaay better than I am … my son will have it when I no longer need it !★★★★★ Gord J. on Dec 18, 2023
Best Outdoor Pocket Knife – Ontario RAT Model 1
A long time ago, Randal’s Adventure Training designed the RAT series for Ontario. The king of that line is, and always has been, the RAT 1. It’s the perfect folder for the modern outdoorsman. Thanks to its full steel liners, it’s tough enough to handle lots of woodwork tasks. Its blade has enough straight edge to allow for hard push cuts, and a sharp curve in the tip for more delicate slicing cuts. Whether you’re camping, hiking, or hunting, the RAT-1 is a worthy companion. And if you lose it, it’s only $50 to replace it!
Too soon Old too late Smart
Have well over 100 knives. Was looking for something that opened easy. One of my first purchases (PRICE) was the RAT 1. Little did I know my first pick was perhaps the easiest opening knife I have. Forget the bearings and price. If you have a well tuned knife on washers it will open with a snap every time. May try the new Rat with the S35 on bearings at the Pivot. (I found my grail so why bother)? On a bet I opened the RAT 1 50 times without a miss. Once I realized it’s capabilities it’s been my go to since(years at this point) OKC also does a great job with AUS 8..★★★★★ Richard L. on May 20, 2023
Best Budget Pocket Knife – Kershaw Iridium
Despite record inflation, the world of budget knives has grown a lot in the last few years. There have been dozens of models and entire brands joining the competition, but the Kershaw Iridium is the one that shook the industry to its core. If you came to me when I got my first at Blade HQ five years ago and asked me to guess the price of the Iridium, I’d guess somewhere well north of $100. It’s got a solid aluminum handle, a dialed crossbar lock, bearings in the pivot, and a beautiful satin-finished D2 blade. Those features were all reserved for higher-end knives just a few years ago, but in 2024, they can be yours for only $65!
The world of budget pocket knives is really big, and we have an entire article about them if you want to learn more!
Don’t think. Just go.
For the money a great buy. Great blade geometry and grins. Attractive and sharp D2 blade. Perfect size foe EDC. Just a good looking affordable knife. So don’t regret it for $60 at Blade HQ. I had to jump on it. Elegant simple design. In honesty I have one knock only. The metal blade scales look good, but are slippery or would be if wet. They need texture but the good news is the shape locks you hands in. Good deal Blade HQ and well done Kershaw.★★★★★ Christopher W. on Apr 25, 2024
Best High-End Pocket Knife – Chris Reeve Sebenza 31
To top off this list, we picked the original grail knife. The knife that most knife nerds dream of and save up for – the Chris Reeve Sebenza. There is so much good about this knife it’s crazy. First, Chris Reeve is known for aerospace-grade machining tolerances, so these knives offer unbeatable fit and finish. The titanium handle scales have a pleasing bead blasted texture and are available with a variety of inlays as well. Topping it all off is the gently hollow-ground blade made of CPM MagnaCut steel hardened 63-64 HRC. The Sebenza is one of the greatest knives ever made!
Why Carry a Pocket Knife?
A pocket knife is the most useful tool you can put in your pocket, second only to your smartphone. A pocket knife comes in handy for a myriad of cutting tasks! Be it as simple as cutting a loose thread off your jeans or as high-stakes as cutting a seatbelt off an unconscious victim. If you carry a pocket knife, the absolute worst that can happen is you don’t use it. But I can all but guarantee that it will save the day at some point.
Are you ready to put the tool of the everyday hero in your pocket? If you’re ready, you’ll find the perfect one for you at BladeHQ.com!
