pocket knivesProbably the first knife you ever owned was a pocket folder, and I’ll bet it was also one of your most prized possessions, until you lost it and got a better one. I can’t imagine anyone who didn’t grow up owning a progression of better pocket knives, although I suppose there are some very deprived souls out there who didn’t.

Folding knives are still the knives you’re most likely to carry every day and use the most, because they’re out of sight and polite. Clips make them even more discreet, sitting on the edge of the pocket instead of laying somewhere at the bottom. Fifty years ago when I had a two hour argument with a Walmart clerk over whether the knife he sold me was the same as the knife on display, small differences in detail and shape meant a lot because choices were limited. Today folding knives come in an amazing variety of styles, from traditional to high tech tactical designs. New companies and new makers offer new and often better ideas. Case and Buck aren’t the only makers whose knives include automatic bragging rights.

Choose from one hand opening knives, spring loaded assisted opening versions, and even a few innovative types that aren’t easy to describe. The folding knife keeps evolving to more specialized forms, but the pocket knife you carried fifty years ago is probably still available today.

Some of Our Favorites

You can’t go wrong with the Buck Ranger, but the Ranger 112 FG sports an improved grip.

For everyday and special occasions, the Al Mar Hawk is a practical barlow with beautiful details.

Simplified and strong, the Victorinox Parachutist Lockback packs more than a knife blade.

Read All of Our Pocket Knife Reviews Below


Pocket Knife

Kershaw Grant County Lockback Pocket Knife | Utility Emergency Blade

Usually when you look at a knife that is stepped down in size, to the 2.625″ folded length of the Kershaw...
Ken
47 sec read

Spyderco Ladybug Utility Pocket Knife | Folding Emergency Blade

The smallest of Spyderco’s folders, the Ladybug packs the same versatility and solid construction as the big boys in the line....
Ken
53 sec read

Queen Cutlery Stockman Folding Pocket Knife | Rare Birdseye Maple Handle

To a novice the classic variations of the American pocketknife must look much the same. Except for the obvious differences of...
Ken
42 sec read

Queen Cutlery Trapper Pocket Knife | Tool Steel Folding Blade, Birdseye Maple Handle

Working from the same Titusville, Pennsylvania, factory that housed their predecessor, Schatt and Morgan Cutlery, Queen still uses many of the...
Ken
46 sec read

Kissing Crane Peanut Trapper Pocket Knife | Gentleman’s Utility Penknife

At the Robert Klaas factory in Solingen, Germany, knives of all sorts have been produced with the Kissing Crane brand since...
Ken
47 sec read

Mtech Chopper Folding Knife | Bargain Utility Serrated Blade

For a very low price Mtech knives will offer many of the features of knives that are way above them in...
Ken
47 sec read

Piranha Amazon OTF Automatic Knife | Police, Military Tactical Stiletto

The Amazon, a side opening automatic knife from Piranha Knives, shows a little of the company namesake’s influence in the shape...
Ken
42 sec read

ProTech Godson Black Tuxedo Switchblade Knife | Police Military Rescue Stiletto

Inspired by the Italian made blades of wiseguys and “made men,” the American engineered Protech Godson brings the practical beauty of...
Ken
49 sec read

ProTech Godfather Automatic Switchblade Knife | Stiletto Dagger | Black Stainless Steel

An upgrade of the stiletto switchblades made famous by the gangster movies of the 1950’s, the knives of the Protech Godfather...
Ken
51 sec read

Queen Cutlery Mountain Man Lockback Knife | Tool Steel Folding Hunting Blade

The Mountain Man Lockback from Queen Cutlery is nearly big enough to match the simple functionality of a small sheath knife,...
Ken
47 sec read

Kissing Crane Congress Stag Pocket Knife | Stainless Steel Folding Utility Blade

For decades the knife industry has been built around the legal length limit, which in most countries allows unlicensed carry, concealed...
Ken
46 sec read

Lone Wolf U.S. 45 Folding Knife | Stainless Steel Tactical Blade

At first it seems a little like a souvenir, reminding me a bit of the fake pistols that turn out to...
Ken
47 sec read

Microtech SOCOM Elite Urban Camo Knife | Tanto Folding Clip Blade

One of the best military quality folding knives available, the Microtech SOCOM Elite offers details others ignore. The 4″ tanto style...
Ken
54 sec read

Lone Wolf Paul Perfecto Gentleman’s Folding Pocket Knife | Stainless Steel Blade, Cocobolo Handle

When a small team of Gerber employees made up their minds to follow their own dreams and start up their own...
Ken
45 sec read

Eye Brand Stockman Knife | Solingen Steel Blade, Stag Handle

I love stockman knives. I grew up in a small western town and used to watch the old ranchers carving pieces...
Ken
47 sec read

CRKT Allen Elishewitz Knife | Combo Edge Stainless Steel Blade

Developed by Texas knife maker Allen Elishewitz, the Horus is named after an Egyptian hawk-headed lord of the sky. Indeed, when...
Ken
59 sec read

Spyderco Assist Rescue Knife | Stainless Steel Combo Edge, Carbide Tip, Survival Whistle

There are a lot of rescue knives out there. There are some with all the bells and whistles – oxygen tank...
Ken
1 min read

W.R. Case John Wayne Folding Knife | Hunter Memorabilia Chestnut Handle

The epitome of western heroism has long been John Wayne. Generation after generation of Americans grew up watching the Duke on...
Ken
45 sec read

Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Double Bevel Combat Knife | Tactical Folding Clip Blade

Designed by Colonel Rex Applegate and greatly influenced by the scientific fighting style of William Fairbairn, this sturdy dagger type folding...
Ken
50 sec read

Victorinox Forester Lockblade Swiss Army Knife | Pocket Knife Multi-tool

Most of us who hike today carry quite a bit of gear with us. The necessary modern philosophy of “pack it...
Ken
1 min read

Case Barnboard Baby Butterbean Pocket Knife | Gentleman’s Utility Folding Blade

With so many new knife designs and ideas now on the market it’s easy to forget that the most popular is...
Ken
57 sec read

Boker Derlin Black Congress Pocket Knife | Stockman’s Stainless Steel Blade

Everybody’s pocket knife used to look like this, back when small differences in style and quality were the most dramatic choices...
Ken
53 sec read

Columbia River Delilah’s PECK Black Teflon Knife | Stainless Steel Plain Blade | Lockback Folding Clip Knife

Knife maker Ed Halligan, designer of the popular K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) knife series, offers a smaller and more utilitarian...
Ken
1 min read

Buck Lockback Metro TM LED Pocket Knife | Emergency Flashlight Keyring | Stainless Steel Blade

Buck’s ergonomic keyring pocket knife is better suited to lighting up keyholes than doing any cutting work. It’s small size and...
Ken
49 sec read

Camillus Sizzle Folding Lockback Knife | Stainless Steel Backpacking Blade

A modern folding knife that has suddenly become the legacy of a once great American knife maker, the Camillus Sizzle and...
Ken
50 sec read

Victorinox Ranger 75 Swiss Army Pocket Knife | Camping Multitool

Victorinox’s 5.1″ folded length Ranger, with a main knife blade almost 4″ long and forged from high carbon stainless steel, ranks...
Ken
55 sec read

Kershaw Money Clip Stainless Steel Pocket Knife Review

It’s always a good idea to keep your eyes open for bargain gift ideas when they happen to surface. We’re bringing...
Ken
46 sec read

Sigg Outdoor Cutlery Utensil Set | Stainless Steel Folding Knife Review

Whenever I think of Sigg, I picture the classic stainless steel water bottles with the loop caps that they’re so famous...
Ken
1 min read

Miss A Army Kit Pocket Knife | NBC Today Show | Emergency Multi-tool | Makeup Fashion

Obviously I’m in favor of carrying knives, but not only for self defense. We all constantly run into circumstances that require...
Ken
48 sec read

Spyderco C36GPSBK Folding Military Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel

Special alloy CPM-S30V knife steel promises to give the 4″ blade of Spyderco’s tactical knife the edge holding capability of traditional...
Ken
50 sec read