Folding knivesToday’s folding knives have become much more than a gentleman’s penknife or a farmer’s pocket utility blade. Technically those are still part of the crowd, but with better grades of materials have come many advancements in folding knife technology. Innovative opening systems give many the one-handed convenience of automatic opening knives, without the same restrictions in ownership and use. Fully open and locked, the best folders are as strong as fixed blades.

Today it’s possible to buy an excellent combat knife or survival blade in a folding clip style. You won’t even need a sheath if you’re happy clipping the knife to a pocket seam. On the other hand, a belt pouch is a good way to make sure the knife stays with you, and also a way to keep the dirt out. That’s one problem to consider, if you find an assisted opening folder an attractive idea. To work well, these knives need to be clean. If your normal occupation would jam them full of sand or hay, something simpler might be a better option.

That won’t stop most of us from appreciating a good tactical or utility folder in the same way we’d admire a good rifle. Some things just require a little more maintenance, and turn out to be well worth the trouble.

Some of Our Favorites

Truly the next generation of Buck hunting knives, the Buck 278 Folder has all the features of a good emergency knife as well.

The Boker Che offers a skeletonized lattice handle and all the features of an automatic except the spring.

The Buck Rush might be the automatic for the rest of us — a little nudge is all it requires.

See All of Our Folding Knife Reviews Below


Folding

Cold Steel Spartan Folding Knife, Greek Kopis | Hunting Recurve Locking Blade w/ Grivory Handle

Open the Cold Steel Spartan and you’ll probably say, “Wow! That’s a big knife!” All the details of this pocket clip...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ginsu Damascus Folding Knife | Clip Point VG-1 Locking Blade w/ Bamboo Presentation Case

When Ginsu entered the outdoor knife market in 2008, the company put its best foot forward. The Ginsu Damascus Clip Point...
JT Hats
1 min read

Petzl SPATHA Alpine Folding Clip Knife | Carabiner Hiking Blade, Large or Small, Serrated or Plain Edge S92L

Manufactured by Petzl of Monaco, France, this colorful knife intends to meet the needs of alpine climbers. Light in weight and...
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57 sec read

Columbia River Knife & Tool 30-30 Hunting Knife, Ebony or Cocobolo | CRKT Folding Hunter by Russ Kommer 2865E

The 30-30 Folding Hunter from Columbia River Knife and Tool was designed by former Alaskan hunting guide Russ Kommer. The knife’s...
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59 sec read

Columbia River Knife & Tool Big Dog Tanto Knife | CRKT Combo Edge Kit Carson Titanium M16-14T

Knife maker Kit Carson created his series of M16 Knives with custom-built machined titanium handles. The Columbia River Knife and Tool...
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1 min read

Benchmade Mini Barrage Osborne Knife 585 | Women’s Self Defense Popular Choice by Blade Magazine

In May 2010, Blade Magazine listed Benchmade’s 585 Mini-Barrage among the most popular knife choices for women. This Warren Osborne design...
JT Hats
1 min read

CRKT Desert Big Dog Combat Knife, Tan Combo Edge | Special Forces Titanium by Kit Carson M21-14DSFG

Knife maker Kit Carson designed CRKT’s M21-14DSFG Desert Big Dog for Special Forces use in desert warfare. A blade coating of...
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1 min read

Slimline Hunter by Bear & Son Cutlery | Hunting Lockback Folding Knife w/ India Stag Bone Handle

The India Stag Bone Slimline Hunter from Bear and Son Cutlery of Jacksonville, Alabama, will be a useful companion anywhere you’d...
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56 sec read

Cold Steel Rajah II Knife by Andrew Demko | Kukri Nepal Replica w/ Grivory Handle

The six-inch blade of the Rajah II serves either as a camp knife or a brush chopping bush knife with enough...
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1 min read

Cold Steel Rajah III Gurkha Folding Clip Replica | Kukri Knife by Andrew Demko w/ Grivory Handle

The favorite field and military knife of Nepal’s Gurkha regiments inspired the Rajah III from Cold Steel. Recreating the broad and...
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1 min read

Shun Higo Nokami Steak Knife, Folding | Japanese Executive Cutlery, Locking Blade w/ Pakkawood

The Higo Nokami knife originated in Japan about 150 years ago and probably was the first pocket folder of Japanese design....
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1 min read

Havalon Piranta Pro Original Skinning Knife | Surgical Stainless Steel Locking One Handed Blade

The Original Piranta Pro Skinning Knife from Havalon Knives offers outdoorsmen the quick blade changes and razor-sharp edges preferred by surgeons....
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1 min read

Havalon Piranta-Z Hunting Knife for Skinning & Caping | Zytel Grip Handle w/ 12 Interchangeable Blades

With a handle sized for a better grip and an even lighter build than the original pocket-sized Piranta, the Piranta-Z comes...
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1 min read

Havalon Baracuta-Edge Fillet Knife | Fishing Flexible Lockback Blade, Zytel Handle

The Havalon Baracuta-Edge is a great idea and a good knife, but five inches of replaceable high carbon stainless steel blade...
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1 min read

Spyderco Resilience Hunting Knife, One Handed | Largest Value Series Folder w/ G-10 Handle

Spyderco’s Resilience is that company’s largest knife in the Spyderco “Value” series. With an open length of 9-3/8 inches and a...
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1 min read

Gerber Fast Draw Knife, Combo Edge Serrated | Assisted Opening Pocket Clip Folder

Gerber’s Fast Draw Knife is one of the company’s first knives to include the F.A.S.T opening system. This inexpensive pocket clip...
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55 sec read

Benchmade Barrage Assisted Opening Knife | Locking Valox Handle, Warren Osborne 580

The Benchmade Barrage adds powerful spring-assisted opening to the already solid construction of Benchmade’s Axis-lock knives. The Valox grip also has...
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57 sec read

Bear & Son Sideliner Damascus Knife | Locking Pocket Clip Folder w/ India Stag Bone Handle 504D

The Bear & Son 504D is the Damascus steel version of the Alabama company’s Sideliner folding knife. All the steel parts,...
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54 sec read

Puma Packer Camping Knife, Lockback Folder | Large Green ABS Grip Handle, Gold Series 230465

Puma’s recommended knife for backpackers — the Puma Packer — actually is slightly heavier than other Puma folders with the same...
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57 sec read

Leatherman Expanse Folding Knife E55 | Plain Straight Edge w/ Carabiner 861311

One of Leatherman’s larger folding knives for the outdoorsman, the Leatherman E55 Expanse takes basic concepts introduced in the Leatherman Crater...
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57 sec read

Leatherman Steens Hunting Knife Multitool 830625 | Gut Hook & Bone Saw w/ Rosewood Handle, Fine Diamond Hone

This upgrade of the Leatherman Ukiah design replaces the Ukiah’s glass-filled nylon handle construction with stronger components of machined aluminum and...
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1 min read

Kershaw Black Storm Knife 1470BLK | Folding Recurve Blade, One Handed w/ Pocket Clip

Kershaw’s Black Storm’s recurved blade offers quick cutting action for severing rope and harness straps with a plain edge that’s easily...
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1 min read

Kershaw Black Shallot Tactical Knife | Ken Onion Folding Tungsten DLC, Plain or Combo Edge Blade

The Kershaw tactical knife called the Black Shallot at first looks a little too sleek if you’re accustomed to blocky, tactical...
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1 min read

Ka-Bar Bobcat Folding Knife by Bob Dozier | Lockback w/ Black Plain Edge, Zytel Handle

Designed by Bob Dozier, marketed by Ka-Bar, and manufactured in Taiwan, the Bobcat Dozier from Ka-Bar looks much like Dozier’s larger...
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1 min read

Victorinox Swiss Army Bantam Alox Pocket Knife Multitool | Plain Edge Spear Point Blade w/ Aluminum Handle in Silver, Red

Only 3-1/2 inches long, the Swiss Army Bantam Alox Pocket Knife packs five useful functions into a pocket folder with only...
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52 sec read

Myerchin Sailor Crew Knife, Pro A377P | Offshore Combo Serrated Spike Blade

Unless you’re a sailor, you may not know what the spike blade of this knife is actually for. Myerchin knives like...
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1 min read

Myerchin Boating Rigging Knife B300 | Offshore Folding Locking Blade w/ Marlinspike

Myerchin’s patented double-lock system allows this unusual and practical folding rigging knife to be used with both blade and marlinspike locked...
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1 min read

Gerber AR 3.0 Emergency or Utility Knife, Combo Edge | Tactical Black Folder LHR 30-000183

Thumb-stud opening and smooth action complement the high carbon stainless steel blade of the Gerber AR 3.0. This tactical black folder...
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55 sec read

Columbia Pat Crawford Natural 2 Folder Knife | CRKT Clip Point Plain Edge w/ Micarta Handle 7080M

Columbia River Knife & Tool’s Natural series brings the quality and appearance of good custom blades to the price range more...
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1 min read

Columbia River CRKT Lift Off 2 Folding Knife, Plain Edge | OutBurst Assisted Opening Locking Blade w/ Pocket Clip

Columbia River Knife & Tool outfits the Lift Off 2 with both Outburst assisted-opening and Firesafe lock. Included in many of...
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1 min read