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Best Pocket Knives

Best Pocket Knives

If you’re reading this, chances are you would agree that a pocketknife is a mandatory part of any everyday carry setup. They come in handy when you least expect them to and offer a great amount of utility over other types of blades thanks to their small size and ease of carry. If you’re in the market for your first solid pocketknife or looking to add another great option to your rotation, this list features a selection of the Best Pocket Knives at Blade HQ. Read on to see what we’ve included!

In addition to an overview of the specs and details of each knife, I’ll also be featuring a review of each knife left by one of our customers.

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1. Spyderco Para 3

Spyderco Para 3 Knife

The Spyderco Para 3 shines as perhaps the best EDC pocket knife in the Paramilitary family. The Military came along as a 4” behemoth primed for war, hard use, and pretty much anything else you could throw at it. When the Paramilitary 2 dropped, people couldn’t get enough. With a more practical blade size, 4 way reversible clip, and the incomparable Compression Lock, it quickly became one of the most popular knives in history. But what about an even smaller and more refined knife that keeps all the great qualities of the PM2? That’s the Para 3. Yeah, it’s just as great as it sounds.

  • 7.27″ Overall Length
  • CPM-S30V Clip Point Blade
  • G-10 Handle Scales
  • 3.40 oz. Weight
  • Made in USA

 

 

 

Spyderco Para 3 Average Star Review

Michael L. says…

“When I first got into knives my first premium knife purchase was a blacked out paramilitary 2, Awesome knife. Came with good steel, perfect grind, ergos on these models are perfect for me (can’t live without a finger choil), Spyderco G-10 is still the best I’ve handled and let’s not forget the compression lock. So when I learned of the Para 3 and got my hands on one it was love all over again, perfection was perfected… Perfect size, perfect ergos, just about perfect all around for me.”

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2. Boker Kalashnikov

Boker Kalashnikov Knife, Best Pocket Knives

The combination of performance, variety and quality found with the Boker Kalashnikov is what makes it such an incredible pocketknife. This automatic folding knife features a rock-solid action, durable AUS-8 blade and aluminum handle scales. Whether you’re looking for a subtle automatic EDC knife or a loud colored knife to talk with your friends about, there’s bound to be a Kalashnikov for you! Get yours today!

  • Overall Length: 7.625”
  • Blade Length: 3.25”
  • Blade Material: AUS-8
  • Handle Material: Aluminum
  • Weight: 3.70 oz.
  • Country of Origin: Taiwan

 

 

 

Boker Kalashnikov Average Star Review

Josh H. says…

“This is my first automatic knife, after looking at reviews and not wanting to spend too much money, I can say with absolutely certainty, that this knife IS TOP NOTCH!. Everything, from the feel, to the quick release, SHARP blade — You really get a bang for your buck on this one.”

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3. CRKT CEO

CRKT CEO Knife, Best Pocket Knives

Simple, sleek, sophisticated. Whichever way you slice it, the CRKT CEO is a designated gentlemen’s carry knife with the look and feel to match. Contoured G-10 handle scales give this slim knife a unique and comfortable feel in hand. Its slender blade is great for light-duty tasks and offers more subtlety than larger bladed knives do. The CEO is an amazing knife for the money and is an amazing knife to throw in a shirt or suit coat pocket.

  • Overall Length: 7.625”
  • Blade Length: 3.10”
  • Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV
  • Handle Material: G-10
  • Weight: 2.10 oz.
  • Country of Origin: China
CRKT CEO Knife Average Star Review

Brian E. says…

“I bought this knife to keep at my desk to open packages and whatever else I need to cut. The small size is about that of a shortened Sharpie and is perfect to sit in a pen holder. The build of the knife is solid and opens nice and smooth with a good hold on the lock. I fell like this would be great for a EDC knife too for it’s looks and small size.”

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4. ESEE Izula

ESEE Izula Knife, Best Pocket Knives

Known for its lightweight, compact design, the ESEE Izula is an EDC fixed blade favorite. This small knife features a bulletproof, 1095 steel blade with a generous finger choil and spine jimping. The Izula’s skeletonized handle helps to keep this knife light while providing ample grip for cutting tasks. This knife also comes in a wide range of colors and finishes, so you can change things up in your rotation. Pick up this awesome pocket fixed blade knife by clicking below.

  • Overall Length: 6.25”
  • Blade Length: 2.875”
  • Blade Material: 1095
  • Handle: Skeletonized with G-10 Scales available for purchase
  • Weight: 1.90 oz.
  • Country of Origin: USA
ESEE Izula Average Star Review, Best Pocket Knives

James H. says…

“Only had the ESEE Izula for one week. Out of the box this knife is SHARP! I added some cord wrap to beef up the skeleton grip and changed to a leather sheath instead of the standard kydex. I can see this knife getting a lot of use. It is a small knife but it’s a great value.”

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5. Victorinox Compact

Victorinox Compact Knife, Best Pocket Knives

No knife collection is complete without a solid Swiss Army Knife. The Victorinox Compact offers the perfect combination of utility and convenience. Its lightweight design and slim profile make this pocketknife easy to carry every day, and offers the luxury of more pocket space thanks to its included tools. The Victorinox Compact features a knife, corkscrew, ballpoint pen, tweezers, and scissors just to name a few of its useful tools.

  • Closed Length: 3.58”
  • Blade Length: 2.75”
  • Blade Material: Stainless Steel
  • Handle Material: Polymer
  • Weight: 2.30 oz.
  • Country of Origin: Switzerland
Victorinox Compact Average Star Review, Best Pocket Knives

Harvey N. says…

“The blade is super thin and great for food prep. The scissors are legendary! This 91mm size and weight is perfect for EDC. Love the fact they combined the can opener and bottle cap lifter on the same tool. The pen and pin have come in handy as well.”

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6. Kershaw Lucha

Kershaw Lucha Knife, Best Pocket Knives

Introduced in early 2020, the Kershaw Lucha has taken the knife world by storm. This budget-friendly balisong is a real crowd pleaser thanks to its high-quality materials and workmanship. Its blade is made from durable 14C28N steel giving it great performance and balance, and it features comfortable stainless-steel handles perfect for learning tricks and carrying the knife every day. This balisong is a unique pocketknife that is great for flipping or simple cutting tasks. If you’re having a tough time deciding which butterfly knife to buy or want to add another solid flipper to your collection, the Kershaw Lucha is a great option.

  • Overall Length: 10.25”
  • Blade Length: 4.60”
  • Blade Material: 14C28N
  • Handle Material: Stainless Steel
  • Weight: 5.90 oz.
  • Country of Origin: USA
Kershaw Lucha Average Star Review, Best Pocket Knives

Tanya K. says…

“The Kershaw Lucha is very sharp and a fairly heavy balisong. It flips really smoothly. The price on this knife was great for the value. Exactly what I was looking for.”

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7. CIVIVI Elementum

CIVIVI Elementum Knife, Best Pocket Knives

When the CIVIVI Elementum was first introduced to the knife world, no one could have predicted the popularity and success the knife would have. Its simple design and amazing performance have propelled the Elementum to the top of many of our best of lists, and it looks like that isn’t changing any time soon. This knife features a hollow-ground, D2 blade and is available with a wide array of handle materials to choose from. Additionally, the Elementum rides on brass, ball-bearing washers and comes standard with a deep carry pocket clip. If you haven’t added an Elementum to your collection, you’re missing out! Head over to our Civivi Elementum Review to see it in action!

  • Overall Length: 6.99”
  • Blade Length: 2.96”
  • Blade Material: D2
  • Handle Material: G-10, Micarta, Metal, or Carbon Fiber
  • Weight: 2.89 oz.
  • Country of Origin: China
CIVIVI Elementum Average Star Review, Best Pocket Knives

Brandon T. says…

“Everyone I’ve shown this knife to has been seriously impressed by the level of quality for the price. Zero blade flex/wobble, smooth flip, and the perfect size and weight.”

Shop CIVIVI ELementum Knife


 

8. Kershaw Launch 4

Kershaw Launch 4 Knife, Best Pocket Knives

How much can you really do with a tiny pocketknife? In the case of the Kershaw Launch 4, you can do a whole lot more than you might expect. In hand, the Launch 4 is small but fits most hands with a secure 3 finger grip. The blade is thin ground with a sharp point to make for an awesome box opener. The automatic action kicks like an angry mule, and it’s even legal to carry in California, believe it or not. Check out our Kershaw Launch 4 Review to learn more.

  • Overall Length: 5.10”
  • Blade Length: 1.90”
  • Blade Material: CPM-154
  • Handle Material: Aluminum
  • Weight: 1.98 oz.
  • Country of Origin: USA

 

 

 

Kershaw Launch 4 Average Star Review, Best Pocket Knives

Andrew C. says…

“A nice automatic pocket knife that’s legal in most states. Durable and convenient. You won’t regret getting this small knife, especially if you’re replacing a dated folding knife.”

Shop Kershaw Launch 4 Knife


 

9. Benchmade Bugout

Benchmade Bugout Knife, Best Pocket Knives

Last, but most definitely not least is the beloved Benchmade Bugout. This knife in all its iterations and variants is a knife industry favorite and honestly one of the biggest game changers in the everyday carry world. It features a premium CPM-S30V Drop Point blade and durable polymer handles. This lightweight pocketknife is built to handle most daily tasks and offers the luxury of ambidextrous opening, closing, and carrying. Its mini deep carry pocket clip helps the Bugout practically disappear in pocket and doesn’t draw unnecessary attention to itself. If there is one knife you should add to your everyday carry rotation, the Bugout is it. The Benchmade Bugout is available in both full and mini-sized versions. Read our full Benchmade Bugout Review to learn more!

  • Overall Length: 7.46”
  • Blade Length: 3.24”
  • Blade Material: CPM-S30V
  • Handle Material: Polymer
  • Weight: 1.80 oz.
  • Country of Origin: USA

 

 

 

Benchmade Bugout Average Star Review, Best Pocket Knives

Kevin B. says…

“The bugout is one of the best knives Benchmade has put out in the last few years. Its so thin it disappears in the pocket. The blade shape is perfect, S30V holds and edge and sharpens easily. You can’t go wrong with this one, just buy it.”

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Final Thoughts

Best Benchmade Folding Knives

Adding a great pocketknife to your EDC rotation is a no-brainer. This list of knives features some of our top picks for Best Pocket Knives and all of them are great for their own reasons. Whether you’re someone who fidgets or someone who prefers subtlety, there’s a knife on this list for you. If these knives didn’t quite stand out to you, no worry! We have a huge selection of pocketknives here at Blade HQ and encourage you to check it out until you find the right knife for you. Until next time, thanks for reading!

Now you’ve got all our recommendations, but Blade HQ has got way more knives than those featured here. Give our wares a browse, and find the perfect knife to suit your needs! For more knives be sure to check out our Best New Knives of 2021 and Best Pocket Knife Brands articles.

Learn More

When it comes to pocketknives, it all comes done to personal taste and carrying preference. See what your friends at Blade HQ are carrying in this Pocket Check episode of Knife Banter. Or check out our Favorite Knives of 2020 article to see all the knives that impressed us this year.

 

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Other Best Knife Guides

Still in that information gathering phase? We’ve got a whole bunch more lists of all the best knives! Happy hunting and may you find the knives of your dreams!

*Customer reviews may be condensed for clarity and edited for grammatical errors. You know we have to make our high school English teacher proud. Check product listings for current pricing.