Weighing just 2.8 ounces, counting the small Secure-Ex sheath and dogtag style neck chain, the Point Guard can be tucked away beneath clothing or lashed in place in easy reach. Arrange it properly and it's a handy tool you'll not even think about. If you need it, the high carbon AUS8 stainless steel Point Guard provides 4 inches of plain hollow ground cutting edge. The overall length of 6-3/4 inches doesn't leave much for the grip, but the design improves on features experimented with in other knives, and turns out to be very usable.

Inspired by a Fred Perrin custom knife design, the large hole accommodates an index finger and the open pistol style grip allows a fairly comfortable and secure three-finger hold. Held solidly in the hand, there's nowhere for the blade to go except where you point it. The system should fit the hands of nearly every user. The finger hole doubles as part of the sheath's latching mechanism -- a rounded tab friction-fits into the hole and keeps the knife secure in any position, even upside-down. Grab the hilt and give the knife a firm pull, and it slips easily from the sheath. This is one neck knife you don't need to worry about bouncing loose.

See the Cold Steel Double Agent knife for a similar neck knife in a karambit style.

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COLD STEEL 49FPS POINT GUARD FIX BLADE KNIFE NEW KNIFE US $45.89   Auction Ends: 23d 19h 35m

Cold Steel Point Guard Plain Edge Neck Knife Sheath 49 US $44.99   Auction Ends: 20d 7h 45m

With a stout, piercing point that Boker describes a a gladius-style, the blade plunges through tough materials easily. A concave cutting edge on the anodized high carbon stainless steel blade hooks straps and cord for quick cutting, but won't be quite so easy to use if your applications involve paring and slicing. Whether a knife makes good sense for everyday carrying depends on how well it matches your daily chores, and if you're an electrician or a handyman, you might miss the old drop point.

For the urban survivalist more interested in clambering out of car wrecks than in peeling apples, this design does make good sense. Deep finger grooves in the fiber reinforced nylon grip give the knife excellent grip strength in difficult circumstances, and the wide handle provides torque for the strong 3-7/8-inch blade. The knife blade swings out with a push on the thumb stud, and locks securely into open position for a working length of 9 inches. Underneath the nylon handle scales, you'll find a strong framework of stainless steel. The pommel includes a hardened steel insert useful for smashing window glass.

See the Boker Hyper for a slimmer pocket folder designed by Chad Los Banos.

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Boker Plus Jim Wagner Reality Based Trainer Knife BO057 US $59.95   Auction Ends: 6d 13h 48m

BOKER PLUS Jim Wagner URBAN SURVIVAL Knife TANTO VIDEO US $26.88   Auction Ends: 18h 24m

Developed for Boker USA and Wilson Tactical by 20-year veteran police officer Roy Huntington, the 4.2-ounce knife offers prybar strength and many application options in a simple 6-inch-long belt knife style. The Boker Plus Cop Tool comes with a leather belt sheath, which attaches easily to other gear or stores in the car for emergencies. The serrated cutting edge quickly saws through seat belts and shoulder harnesses, and handles ordinary cutting chores. The squared chisel point of the high carbon stainless blade slips into crevices for levering apart jammed doors and wreckage or stubbornly chips away at obstacles. For quick cord cutting, use the notch in the spine of the blade.

G-10 handle scales give the knife a non-slip textured grip that holds up against chemical solvents and stays tactile when wet. A finger choil gives extra purchase when slicing, and a hollow in the base of the blade fits the thumb when using the flat edge of the knife's point. A notch in the handle fits the valve of an oxygen tank. Exposed metal surfaces are bead-blasted to reduce shine. Thick high carbon stainless steel and one-piece full tang construction make this a versatile no-fail tool for any urban traveler.

For a larger knife with similar features, see the Ka-Bar Tac Tool.

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Boker Plus Cop Tool Multi Function Knife 02BO300 NEW US $41.95   Auction Ends: 19d 22h 3m

Boker Knives Plus Cop Tool Multifunctional 02BO300 US $52.95   Auction Ends: 8d 12h 46m

The Boker Plus Anti-MC combines two modern materials to create this elegant pocket folder. Titanium handle construction guarantees that you're getting one of the lightest and strongest handle builds possible. Joining that to the ceramic cutting blade creates a knife that's invulnerable to rust and corrosion. If you work around seawater, that's a definite plus since even stainless steel degrades quickly in that brisk salty air.

Slicing is the strong point of this knife, not prying. Levering with the blade or dropping it on a hard surface could cause major damage, and even cutting requires a different technique, based on straight cuts instead of cutting a curved chip. If you like knives that are sharp, the 3-1/4-inch ceramic blade's cutting edge is plenty of reason to own this knife. Heavy use might cause micro-chipping of the knife's edge, but even that doesn't greatly affect the way the Boker Plus Anti-MC cuts. Micro-chips simply cause the edge to grip a little faster. Run a finger carefully along the edge of a chert arrowhead, and you'll get the idea quickly.

Although Boker does call this a tactical folder, the clean design and conservative blade style make this a pocket folder nearly anyone can carry. The pocket clip keeps the knife securely in place, and a lanyard hole allows owners to add a wrist loop for knife security in tricky locations. One-handed opening and integral frame lock add to its practicality.

For another ceramic cutter from Boker, see the Boker Infinity.

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BOKER PLUS ANTI MC Ceramic Blade Titanium Handle Knife US $49.95   1 Bid Auction Ends: 1h 58m

BOKER PLUS ANTI MC TACTICAL KNIFE w CERAMIC BLADE TITANIUM HANDLE BOP035 US $51.99   Auction Ends: 3d 2h 11m

You don't lose much when you choose the Mini-Barrage. This knife's blade features the same 154CM high carbon stainless steel, hardened to Rockwell 58 to 61 for a long-lasting cutting edge. The blade's only about 3/4 of an inch shorter than the larger model with a length of 2.91 inches and a slightly scaled-down handle four inches long when closed. That's a better fit for smaller hands but still plenty of grip for other users.

The Mini-Barrage mounts to the lip of a pocket with a strong stainless steel pocket clip and can be reconfigured by owners to fit either right- or left-handed use. Just remove and reverse the clip mounting for left-handed carry. Dual thumb studs permanently set in the base of the blade allow both lefties and righties to open the blade without any changes. The Axis lock guarantees that the blade stays put, either closed or open, and once a push of the thumb starts the blade moving, the spring assist mechanism snaps the blade open with nearly automatic speed.

If you're used to knives with a high friction grip, the Valox handle may surprise you. This form-fitting material is the same high-impact plastic used in many modern gunstocks and stays in the hand more by shape than by tackiness. At 3.4 ounces, it's light enough to take along on runs, but it's enough practical blade for serious work.

See the Benchmade Barrage for a larger version of this Warren Osborne design with a 3.6-inch blade.

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NEW BENCHMADE Mini Barrage Osborne Black Knife 585BK US $114.75   Auction Ends: 15d 11h 17m

NEW BENCHMADE KNIVES 585BK MINI BARRAGE ASSITED KNIFE BLACK OSBORNE USA NEW BOX US $106.95   Auction Ends: 28d 1h 30m

The Hairy Carry's 154CM high carbon stainless steel resists corrosion and provides a long-lasting edge. A blade thickness of .170 inch cuts weight, but the convex grind makes the knife stronger than the usual hollow ground edge. Blade length of 3-1/2 inches matches that of many pocket knives, but a full-sized grip brings the overall length to 8-1/4 inches. That extra grip allows even large hands to apply full power to a cutting stroke.

A slight drop point makes the knife usable for piercing but provides a full belly that makes this small blade an excellent slicer. As a utility knife for handymen or a lightweight and rugged field knife for hunters or fishermen, the Hairy Carry performs well. Handle slabs of G10 offer a secure grip in all sorts of weather, resist chemical damage and remain stable over a wide range of temperatures. The Hairy Carry's grip has rounded edges instead of squared corners and won't dig into the palms if the job lasts more than a few minutes.

The simple construction of this knife only adds to its toughness. The handle scales join to the full width tang with three steel tube rivets and exactly follow the profile of the knife blank. The grip includes a slightly dropped bolster and shallow finger choil for better knife control, plus a lanyard hole for adding a wrist loop.

Kershaw also makes a tough small fixed blade capable of rough work, the Kershaw Zero Tolerance knife.

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The patented Gerber Forward Action Spring Technology (FAST) is the work of Butch Vallotton, a well-known knife designer from Oregon. Combined with a new slide lock, action is fast and safe. Before the blade either opens or closes, the slide lock button must be moved, preventing accidental closures as well as unintended opening inside the pants pocket. To open the nearly three-inch-long high carbon stainless steel blade, push the slide lock open and then swing the blade out with either thumb stud. After a push, the FAST mechanism takes over.

Just over seven inches long when fully open, the 3.6-ounce Fast Draw is enough knife for ordinary uses and is a good lightweight choice for campers and hikers concerned about weight. People with larger hands might find the textured black nylon handle a little small. With a combo-serrated edge, the knife is better suited to rough work than fine slicing or carving.

Most knife manufacturers now provide some type of assisted opening knife. Knives must resist opening until manual pressure pushes the blade past a detente point. From there, a spring mechanism can propel the blade to an open position. It's not quite automatic, but it makes one-handed opening more dependable and available to the ordinary user.

See the Gerber Mini-Covert for this company's high-tech approach to a venerable WWII combat design.

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Gerber Fast Draw FAST Assisted Open Steel Lock Tactical Folding Pocket Knife NEW US $24.95   Auction Ends: 28d 8m

GERBER Fast Draw Speedy Half Serrated Folding Pocket KNIFE Hunting Sharp Quick US $7.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 6h 41m

Owners will still be most impressed by the tactical advantages of this Out-The-Front automatic knife. Double-action blade deployment allows blade extension and blade retraction by simply pushing a slide button forward or backward. In any situation where one-handed use is essential, the Infidel series gets high scores. The handle scale beneath the pocket clip has a smooth surface for less friction when withdrawing the knife, and the over-sized stepped slide button simply can't be missed. In a situation where you can't afford to fumble for the button, you'll know where this one is.

The opposite scale of the anodized T-6 aluminum grip shows a textured surface for better knife retention. The large size of the handle, 5 inches when closed, allows part of the grip to protrude beyond the palm for striking. The S30V stainless steel blade holds an edge well, hardened to 58 to 60 on the Rockwell scale. Benchmade calls the styling of the 3.95-inch blade a utility drop-point. The silhouette of the blade shows a straighter spine with enough width for safe back pressure during heavy cutting work..

Only active duty military, law enforcement personnel, and other special-use categories can legally carry automatic knives. If you're a civilian interested in an OTF design, try the Smith & Wesson Assisted Opening OTF knife.

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This fixed blade fighting knife's four-inch high carbon stainless steel blade includes a modern improvement many prefer as an option rather than a main edge. One side of the hollow ground blade is partially serrated for dealing with tough straps, rope, and cord, but the other side of the knife is plain-edged for smooth cutting. The knife's wide tang is fully enclosed by the black synthetic handle, and that extra grip width provides more leverage and control. The blade guard incorporated in the handle combined with the short unsharpened blade base could effectively parry an attacking weapon. With this type of grip, there's also little chance of the owner's hand slipping forward.

Unlike many last ditch knives, the Ninja II is big enough to be practical for ordinary purposes. The extra heft that's a trademark of Bear and Son Cutlery should inspire confidence in the person who carries it. All parts of the knife are American-made by Bear & Son at the company's facility in Jacksonville, Alabama.

The black leather sheath which comes with this eight-inch-long knife clips to either belt or boot, and at only eight ounces, the knife carries well by either method.

For a slimmer version of the boot knife, see the Kershaw Boot Knife.

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Bear Son Knives Ninja False Edge Dagger Knife New 588 US $55.62   Auction Ends: 16d 13h 46m

Bear Son Knives Ninja False Edge Stag Knife New 588 US $58.75   Auction Ends: 12d 19h 4m

Bear & Son produces several versions of the balisong knife at their factory in Jacksonville, Alabama, and the Black 4-inch model is one of their most utilitarian. Built with a high carbon stainless steel blade and pivoting cast metal handles, the knife is well balanced and lightweight. Skeletonizing the handle halves cuts out ounces without seriously affecting the strength of the build. A black epoxy powder coat improves the look of this simply-made balisong, which opens easily with a practiced swing. The metal latch keeps the knife locked either in closed or open position. The Black Butterfly is more functional than beautiful and able to take a fair amount of abuse without serious damage.

Balisong knives are usually thought of as originating in the Philippines, but similar knives existed even earlier in France and may have migrated to the Philippines with French colonists. The butterfly knives became popular in America as returning WWII soldiers brought them back from the Pacific theater. As with automatic knives from Europe, import restrictions soon fell into place. Still popular with collectors, the balisong also finds a home as martial arts equipment.

For a larger version of the Bear & Son butterfly knife, see the Silver Vein Balisong.

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Practice BALISONG BUTTERFLY COMB ALL STAINLESS Knife Trainer Fly Balisong Black US $13.88   Auction Ends: 18d 42m

New in Box Butterfly Bottle Opener practice knife Bartender Black US $.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 1h 12m