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

Hanwei Premium Butterfly Knife Set | Chinese Replica Display Weapon

One of the most interesting of the old Chinese weapons, butterfly knives originally were carried concealed beneath the robes of monks....
JT Hats
59 sec read

Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri | San Mai III 35ATCJ | Traditional Asian Military Knife

Cold Steel’s San Mai III Gurkha Kukri may be the heaviest kukri produced today — with full tang VG-1 high carbon...
JT Hats
1 min read

Puma IP White Hunter Skinning Knife | Full Tang Leather Handle

Nowhere in the Puma lineup is the difference between the International Puma (IP) brand and the original quite so obvious as...
JT Hats
1 min read

Puma IP Scout Bowie Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel, Stag Handle

Natural stag handles which vary in shape and pattern from knife to knife give each Puma IP Scout Bowie the unique...
JT Hats
51 sec read

Damascus Bowie Knife w/ Stag Bone Handle | Bear & Son

I’ve always wondered about the story K-Bar tells of the trapper who killed a wounded bear with one of their Bowie...
JT Hats
56 sec read

Blackjack Trailguide Hunting Bowie Knife | Antique Ivory Micarta Handle

The Blackjack Trailguide, a full-sized skinner, offers collectability as well as practical value. The wide Bowie-style blade with false double edge...
JT Hats
55 sec read

Puma IP Combat Dagger Knife | Black Military Double Edged Teflon Blade

This 10.83-inch black combat dagger from Puma IP — the international production branch begun in Spain in 2003 — sports a...
JT Hats
55 sec read

Puma Wapati Hunting Knife | Solingen Carbon Steel w/ Stag Handle

The stag-handled Wapiti follows the Puma Knives’ tradition of simplicity and excellence. This old Solingen, Germany knife-making firm has made sporting...
JT Hats
48 sec read

Beretta Skinner Fixed Hunting Knife | Bob Loveless 522 | Collectible Limited Edition

With the backing of the famous Italian firearms makers Beretta, this Bob Loveless drop point skinner design offers the essence of...
JT Hats
45 sec read

Maxam Knives Painted Wolf Faux Antler Fixed Bowie Knife

This interesting display Bowie by Maxam Knives of Dallas, Texas, was created as a canvas for the hand painted wolf themed...
Ken
50 sec read

Gil Hibben Signature Edition Rambo III Bowie Knife | Movie Replica Blade

Created by Gil Hibben for Sylvester Stallone’s recurring role as John Rambo, this striking Bowie style fighting knife appeared in the...
Ken
50 sec read

WWI 1918 Trench Warfare Knuckle Duster Military Knife | Historical Replica Blade

Based on an old trench knife design, this cleaned up version represents the spirit of the worst of times, the trench...
Ken
49 sec read

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Kunai Japanese Anime Throwing Knife Set

Inspired by the weapons of the popular game Naruto: Ultimate Ninja, these reproductions of the kunai from that series are more...
Ken
53 sec read

Trademark Global Bamboo Ninjutsu Cane Sword | Japanese Katana

This bamboo cane sword, imported by Trademark Global, reproduces an old hidden weapon from Japan called the shikomizue. This particular type...
Ken
50 sec read

Solingen Puma Pro Hunter Gut Hook Knife | Stag Handle Full Tang Blade w/ Sheath

The 3 3/4″ dropped blade of this compact traditionally built hunting knife from Puma of Solingen, Germany, combines the hollow grind...
Ken
49 sec read

Fiskars Organic Garden Knife Tool | Gardening Hand Trowel

Hand gardening tools that work well are nearly impossible to find today. It isn’t because gardeners don’t need them; it’s because...
Ken
1 min read

Boker Tacticos Corto Military Tactical Knife | Full Tang Fixed Blade

With the Tacticos Corto, Boker of Solingen, Germany, brings a tactical design into the world where the rest of us live....
Ken
57 sec read

Bark River Mini Canadian Special Hunting Knife | Full Tang Blade w/ Sheath

As you go farther north, the bears get bigger and the knives get closer to the old forms that work the...
Ken
48 sec read

Bark River Upland Special Hunting Knife | Fixed Survival Blade

The clean ergonomic curves of this tool steel full tang sheath knife give stress free efficiency to an old and reliable...
Ken
51 sec read

Bark River Little Caper Hunting Knife | Full Tang Fixed Blade w/ Sheath

The little knife for the big game trophy hunter, Bark River Knives’ Little Caper tool steel blade has the finesse you...
Ken
44 sec read

Bark River Golog Survival Machete | Fixed Hunting Blade

The Bark River Golog brings the traditional machete of Indonesia to the North Woods of America. One pound in weight, the...
Ken
50 sec read

Bark River Huntsman Deluxe Knife | Full Tang Survival Blade

Known for producing simple but quality knife designs whose beauty derives from perfect function, Bark River’s deluxe line goes a step...
Ken
50 sec read

Bark River Woodland Special Hunting Knife | Full Tang Blade w/ Sheath

The wide strong 3″ long tool steel blade of the Woodland Special from Bark River Knives of Michigan is a step...
Ken
43 sec read

Best Fillet Knife: Queen Cutlery Fishing & Filet Knife | Stainless Steel Blade, Amber Bone Handle

It’s not only the good fishermen who actually need a knife of the quality that this Queen Cutlery Filet blade shows....
Ken
50 sec read

Mtech Hunter Wood Knife | Full Tang Stainless Steel Drop Point Blade

The Mtech Hunter Wood Knife, 9″ of full tang stainless steel, is a very tempting example of a good looking and...
Ken
50 sec read

Microtech Currahee Special Forces Knife | Tool Steel Full Tang Blade | Tactical Green Beret

Nice to see that someone out there hasn’t completely shifted over to stainless steel, and it doesn’t surprise me to find...
Ken
52 sec read

Gerber Lara Croft Guardian Back-Up Knife | Splinter Cell Tactical Boot Dagger

Twenty years ago Bob Loveless designed the first of these classic tactical knives, never suspecting their popularity would extend even to...
Ken
51 sec read

Ramster Survival Knife, Hollow Handle, Survival Accessories Kit

This is a massive knife. It’s a clip point, plain edge 7.5-inch stainless steel blade with serrated spine and serrated swedge...
Ken
1 min read

Boker Bud Nealy Tanto Knife | Stainless Steel Blade, Micarta Handle

Bud Nealy is a professional musician turned master knife maker. He began knife-making nearly thirty years ago, as a hobby, and...
Ken
47 sec read

Ka-Bar Black Serrated Tactical Combat Knife | Full-Size Military Fixed Blade

This classic Ka-Bar military design has been only slightly modified from the original version, the mainstay fixed blade instrument of American...
Ken
1 min read