Fixed Blade knivesLooking for a knife that opens with one hand, won’t fold back on your fingers under a heavy load, and requires almost no maintenance? The easiest and best solution is the oldest — not the automatic or the lockback folder, but the old-fashioned fixed blade. Wear it in a belt sheath and it’s there when you need it.

OK, maybe you’ll get some strange looks in town and it might not be entirely appropriate attire in all situations, but on the farm or in the woods this knife style makes perfect sense. Fixed blades don’t fail and they come in all sizes, made for all conceivable purposes. Full tang versions are either ground or forged from one piece of steel stock — you can see the steel core of the knife on top and bottom of the handle and all the way to the butt. Some good modern fixed blades extend the tang a little beyond that for use as a glass smasher.

Rat tail tang fixed blades aren’t weaker, just made differently, with a slender inner core of steel running through the handle grip and usually capped with an end bolster of brass or steel. Many of the best combat knives use this construction. In either tang style you’ll find much of a maker’s best work in the fixed blade knife, with less mechanical challenge and more art.

Some of Our Favorites

Our choice for the best fixed blade knife is the Fox River from Bark River Knives. Bark River’s attention to detail has always earned them a ton of praise

Proven to be one of the best knives ever made, the Ka-Bar Combat Bowie was field tested in every war since 1942 — this is the Vietnam Commemorative version.

The Boker Tacticos Corso is a fine tactical knife even civilians can carry.

Read All of Our Fixed Blade Knife Reviews Below


Fixed Blade

Promate Titanium Dive Knife | Plain Blade w/ Cord Cutter, Scuba Diving Sheath

Not many knives get as much public product testing as this Promate Titanium Diving Knife. Watch the survival episodes Bear Grylls...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Fish Fillet Knife by Kershaw, 7 Inch | Fishing Freshwater Plain Edge Blade w/ ABS Sheath

Many freshwater fishermen will find this 7-inch Fillet Knife from Kershaw to be all the knife they need. Take good care...
JT Hats
1 min read

Kershaw Fishing Fillet Knife w/ Hard Sheath | Heavy Duty Professional Flexible Steel Blade 9 Inch

The Kershaw Fillet Knife with 9-inch blade offers functional quality and a price appropriate to a knife which usually gets the...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Cold Steel True Flight Throwing Knife | Fixed Spear Point Blade w/ Sheath 80TFTC

The True Flight Thrower from Cold Steel combines common sense materials and good design. This balanced throwing knife also cuts and...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Cold Steel SRK Survival Knife | Navy Seal Search & Rescue, Fixed Black Blade w/ Concealex Sheath

Years ago, any hunter looking for a good field knife expected something this good. Today, the Cold Steel Search and Rescue...
JT Hats
1 min read

Boker Cop Survival Tool Kit | Tactical Serrated Cord Cutter, 440C Plus

The ideas behind this unusual and very practical urban tool resemble a knife design from Becker Knife & Tool, now a...
JT Hats
1 min read

Berkley Breaking & Fillet Fishing Knife | Butcher Blade, Red & Black Handle w/ Sheath, 10 Inch

Made for cleaning larger fish, the Berkley Breaking Knife includes an advanced blade coating to extend blade life. The ten-inch Breaking...
JT Hats
59 sec read

Cold Steel Pendleton Knife Lite Hunter | Field & Stream Magazine Award for Best Fixed Hunting Blade

Combining quality with lost cost, Cold Steel’s Pendleton Lite Hunter counters the idea that to get the best, you pay more....
JT Hats
1 min read

Cold Steel Perfect Balance Throwing Knife | Professional or Practice Thrower w/ Bowie Blade

Here’s a throwing knife that doesn’t skimp on quality. Cold Steel’s Perfect Balance Thrower has enough weight for a satisfying hit...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ninja Throwing Knives Set w/ Nylon Case | Fantasy Martial Arts Shuriken Training Dagger Stars

These modern ninja throwing knives are much more complicated than real shuriken but do actually work. Made by Ninja Generation, these...
JT Hats
53 sec read

Swamp Rat Hairy Carry Knife Works | Tactical Fixed Blade Full Tang Drop Point, by Jerry Busse

The Swamp Rat Knife Works Hairy Carry was designed as a high performance fixed blade in a size matched to everyday...
JT Hats
1 min read

Hanwei Shuriken Throwing Knife Set | Darts With Arm or Leg Strap Nylon Pouch

If you’ve not practiced with shuriken — thrown weapons which ranged from darts and knives to multi-pronged throwing stars — you...
JT Hats
56 sec read

Swamp Rat Modified Bowie Knife M6 | Collectors Fixed Blade w/ Micarta Handle

The M6 isn’t part of the Swamp Rat Knife Works current production but is sometimes available in new or used condition...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Pygmy ATAK by Mad Dog Knives | Camping Knife w/ Drop Point Plain Edge Full Tang Blade

Mad Dog Knives makes the Pygmy ATAK knife in two versions, distinguished by different thicknesses of the high carbon tool steel...
Sharon
1 min read

Mad Dog Para Raider Survival Knife | Dutch Military Replica Full Tang Blade

Mad Dog Knives produced the Para Raider knife for elite members of the Dutch military, but a few pieces did find...
Sharon
1 min read

Crocodile Dundee Knife Replica | Bowie Australian Frontier Fixed Blade by Down Under Knives

Bowies large enough to suit Crocodile Dundee were common on the American frontier but are much harder to find now. Today,...
JT Hats
1 min read

Mad Dog Panther Bowie Knife | Australian Outback Hunting Fixed Blade w/ Crocodile Dundee Sling

The Panther from Mad Dog Knives was built to military standards but literally with a Crocodile Dundee flair. Mick would feel...
JT Hats
1 min read

Cold Steel Boar Hunter Knife | Celtic Inspired Blade Plain Edge by Lynn Thompson 39LSP

Ancient Celtic blades inspired the design of the Cold Steel Boar Hunter, but modern tactical materials make this new hunting knife...
JT Hats
55 sec read

Berkley Extreme Heavy Duty Fishing Knife | Ceramic Coated, Saltwater Safe w/ Hard Sheath & Sharpening Stone

The Berkley Extreme Duty Knife puts together nearly every high-tech good idea available to manufacturers of rugged fixed blades. The result...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Fillet Fishing Knife, Heavy Duty Kraton Handle | Industrial Stainless Steel Hollow Ground Blade w/ Sheath

Made in Olean, New York, the KA-Fillet Fishing Knife requires minimal care. Built for the roughest working conditions, the knife is...
JT Hats
59 sec read

Jungle King Bowie Hunting Knife by Trademark | Fixed Skinning Blade w/ Survival Kit, Nylon Sheath

This heavy, fixed-blade Bowie knife from Trademark holds much more than a sharp edge with two different compartments of gear and...
JT Hats
1 min read

Myerchin Dive Knife A500 | Offshore Safety Coast Guard & Marine Professional Rigging Blade

Myerchin’s Model A500 Offshore Knife developed in response to requests from Coast Guard sailors and divers in southern California. These professionals...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Neck Knife & Lanyard, Black BK11 | Becker Necker Fixed Plain Edge LDK Tactical

The 6-3/4-inch Becker Necker, now produced by Ka-Bar, seems a bit much to hang around the neck. Though it’s better suited...
JT Hats
1 min read

Bull Bob Dozier Knife by Ka-Bar | Clip Point Hunting & Survival Black Blade

Designed by Bob Dozier and produced in collaboration with Ka-Bar, the Ka-Bar Bull Dozier knife shows the forty years of knife-making...
JT Hats
1 min read

Uzi Battlefield Commander Fixed Knife EK ZF52 | Combat Dagger Blade w/ Tactical G-10 Handle

The Uzi EK Battlefield Commander does have an interesting high-tech look but comes up slightly short in durability. Balance the trendy...
JT Hats
1 min read

Double Shadow Fantasy Knife by Gil Hibben | United Cutlery Sci-Fi Collectible Display Weapon

Gil Hibben designed the 11-1/4-inch Double Shadow Knife specifically for United Cutlery in 1991. Part of Hibben’s Fantasy Knife Series —...
JT Hats
54 sec read

Gil Hibben Recon Knife HTF | United Cutlery Hunting Tactical Drop Point Fixed Blade

Master Knife Maker Gil Hibben’s HTF Recon Knife, produced by United Cutlery, intends to cover both the tactical needs and hunting...
JT Hats
1 min read

Black Sentry Trench Knife by United Cutlery, Concealed | Knuckle Duster Spear Point WWI Fixed Blade w/ Shoulder Harness

Many cheaper versions of this knife are available, but the Black Sentry Spear Point Trench Knife is the least you should...
JT Hats
56 sec read

United Cutlery Pathfinder Emergency Knife, Combo Edge | Combat Tactical Tanto Blade w/ Compass

The Pathfinder Combat Tactical Knife from United Cutlery might be a better choice as a camp tool or an emergency knife...
JT Hats
1 min read

Crown Marking Knife, Right Handed Carving 112 | Woodworking Hand Tools, Full Tang 2 Inch Rosewood

Crown’s Right-Handed Marking Knife has the low price, high quality, and practicality that I love to see in hand tools. Getting...
JT Hats
1 min read