How To Choose The Best Pocket Knife

A pocket knife is a great addition to anyone’s camping kit and daily-use tool kit. Small in size and handy to use, a folding pocket knife is a great way to have an all-in-one tool for your various needs.

But here’s the thing, not every person will benefit from having the same type of pocket knife. What is a good pocket knife for you may not be such a great one for someone else. This is why we’ve created this detailed guide to help you choose the best pocket knife brands.

Five Things to Consider When Purchasing a Pocket Knife

·      Purpose of the knife

Consider why you need folding knives in the first place. Is it for a one-off camping trip? Or do you need one for daily use? This will impact the pocket knife quality you choose. The more regularly you use your pocket knife, the better it should hold up to wear and tear.

·      Blade number and types 

Choosing the number and type of blades you need is important when deciding on a knife. If you intend to use your pocket knife for de-skinning or carving up a hunt, then you would need a knife that has dedicated blades for hunting and carving. Such knives usually have a particular type of edge, which will help you with a specific task. For example, a plain edge for cutting/hacking, a serrated edge for carving/sawing, and a combined edge for survival/adventure activities.

If you plan on using your pocket knife specifically for small repairs, opening cans, cutting wires, then a Swiss Army Knife with multiple-use blades will work. This type of knife will come with other tools in addition to your knife.

The thing is, if you need a specialized blade for multi-purposes, it’s best to buy separate pocket knives for each activity. These blades will be stronger and last longer too. But if you’re going to use these knives for simple tasks that don’t wear the blade much, then thinner blades that support multi-purpose pocket knife use can be a great choice.

Depending on what you’re going to do with your pocket knife, you have various types of blades you can choose from:

• Clip point
• Drop point
• Straight back
• Needle point
• Spear point
• Tanto point
• Sheepsfoot
• Trailing point
• Pen blade
• Wharncliffe
• Spey point
• Hawkbill
• Modified blades

·       Pocket Knife Material and Handle 

Pocket knives come in a combination of material. For example, a high-carbon stainless steel blade on a wooden or top-quality plastic handle, or alloy blades with bone handles. Based on your needs, you can find a configuration of pocket knives that suit your diverse needs and preferences.

When considering the pocket knife handle, you should also consider the design. Do you want a loop-like construction into which you can hook your thumb? Or do you prefer a groove that can help improve your palm grip when holding the knife? You should also consider how comfortable the handle grip will be for your hand.

This is where the size of the overall knife comes in. There’s everything from 2-inches to 7.5 inches. Smaller pocket knives are easier to carry, larger pocket knives are better for self-defence and hunting. However, a large knife may not be great if your hands are small or you have a physical disability that makes it challenging to hold big knives. In this case, a medium-sized knife between 3 to 5 inches can be a good choice. 

·      Open and lock mechanism

This is a crucial point to consider when purchasing folding pocket knives and camping knives. Not every country allows all types of pocket knives in certain situations. For example, in some places, it’s perfectly legal to carry an automatic knife. But in other places, it's not. 

Similarly, opening and locking mechanisms also affect the usability and safety offered by the pocket knife. Having a knife that opens quickly and immediately is essential when you’re using it for hunting, tactical operations, or protection. Similarly, some locking mechanisms are easy to use in a single hand, while others require both hands to lock the knife and can be cumbersome.

Manual opening blades are legal almost everywhere. But automatic/switchblade knives are easier to use. When it comes to locking, you have various options, such as liner locks, slipjoint, lock back, midlocks, frame locks, ring locks and lever locks.

Our top 3 Best Pocket Knife Brands to Choose From

The brands on this list are some of the best folding knives available on the market.

·      Leatherman 

International bestseller Leatherman is a great multi-purpose folding pocket knife. It comes with an array of blade types and additional tools that can help you do a variety of tasks. This pocket knife is made using stainless steel.

·      Benchmade 

Any pocket knife by Benchmade can grab the title “the best knife for camping.” The knives by this brand are made using premium stainless-steel blades and come in various edges. The handles are ergonomically designed, making them perfect for absolutely anyone to use.

·      Zero Tolerance

This top-of-the-line pocket knife brand is a premium brand. Made using custom hardware and premium-quality materials, folding camping knives by Zero Tolerance is a class apart from the rest. This brand offers the perfect knives for rough usage. They’re durable and non-corrosive, perfect for all types of tactical activities.

At Skuxs, we stock a wide selection of premium camping knives. Get the best knife for camping right here at Skuxs.

Read more: The 5 Best Knives for the Outdoors and The Best Leatherman Multi-Tools