Carbon steel is easy to sharpen, holds an edge well, and is durable, but the blade takes more care because the metal is prone to corrosion. The three most common categories for pocket knives are carbon, stainless, and tool steel. More for Your Outdoor Adventures: Best Hiking Shoes Plus, you can use the back of the blade for things like fire sparking rods without it closing or bending on you. It won’t close on your fingers during use, which makes it safer, and the stiffness of a locking blade lets you manipulate it at a variety of angles, like while whittling wood or opening a particularly tricky package. Most handles range from 3.5- to 5-inches. Most blades in this category measure from 2 to 3.5 inches long and have a drop-point shape. It should be light enough to carry comfortably but with a blade and handle that are sized to your liking. When considering knives for everyday carry (EDC), look for a folding option that easily fits on your belt or in your pocket when closed. What to Look for in a Pocket Knife Folder

I now have different knives for different days and activities and have tested most of the top models from the top brands over the past few years. My preferences for a good pocket knife have evolved considerably over those 30 years, and my collection of pocket knives has grown as well. I never showed up to her house without one after that and I’ve probably carried a pocket knife for 95 percent of the days of my adult life. The Expert: My grandmother once chided me (then knife-less) that a man with a pocket knife was worth an extra dollar an hour on their dairy farm.

Secure Grip: Spyderco Delica 4 FRN Flat Ground.

Best Small Pocket Knife: Benchmade 533 Mini Bugout.

Best Spring-Assisted Knife: Kershaw Link.

Best Mid-Size: Case XX Marilla Pocket Knife.

A good pocket knife obviously fits comfortably in your pocket, so I’ve focused here on folding knives, but every person has different priorities for what their knife should do, how it should feel in the hand, and what it should look like, so I’ve highlighted my favorites in a range of common categories of pocket knife. If you work with your hands, a pocket knife can save you time going to get a specialized tool when a pocket knife might work nearly as well. The utility of a pocket knife is obvious- cutting food, rope, packaging, and who knows what else, but they’re also handy for opening boxes, scraping off stickers, pruning shrubs, digging in the dirt, cleaning fish, and whatever else might require an all-purpose tool. Sleeping and flying are probably the only times I’m not carrying.

I feel naked if I get dressed for the day without one. I don’t know how anyone gets through life without a pocket knife.

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