Learn how a knife can save your life in a survival situation. If you’re out in the wilderness and disaster strikes and all you have is your knife and your knowledge, you’ll make it if you know how a knife can save your life.
Just take moment to imagine yourself out in the wilderness without any survival gear but your knife. It isn’t a nice picture when you don’t know how to use that one piece of survival gear.
So take a moment and learn the ways that a knife can become your lifesaver.
1. Self-Defense
You may not want to but you have to consider, a knife was invented primarily as a weapon. It is to your benefit indeed, to know how to use it to defend yourself from animals and people alike.
2. Hunting
When you’re out in the wild in a survival situation, getting food is one of your top priorities. Whether foraging for edibles or hunting for fish or game, a knife can do a good job at it. You can use your knife as a hunting tool by attaching it to a pole or long stick to use as a spear.
3. Dressing Game
After you successful hunt, the next step is to skin or gut your catch and what better tool to use than your knife! Most fish have gills and fins too sharp and thick for your hands to handle so let a knife do the job and avoid injuring your hands.
4. Splitting Wood
Yes, your knife can split thick chunks of wood if you know the technique. Make a wedge in the wood and lodge the sharp edge of the knife safely in with your hands on the handle. Use another thick piece of wood and use it as a baton to drive the knife deep and split the wood.
5. Making Fire
Now that you have wood, the next step for your survival is to make fire. In case you don’t have any fire starters, your knife can work wonders in this area. Making a feather stick can help you build fire faster and effectively. Use your knife to split the wood into smaller pieces, then make shavings to make thinner wood strips.
6. Opening Cans And Shells
Okay, so you were able to bring some canned goods, but you forgot the can opener. Don’t fret, a knife can be your substitute! You can also use your knife to pry other things open, like shells.
7. Tool Making
A knife is a tool in itself but when you need other tools for your survival, you can surely use it to make some stakes, spears, snares, fish hooks and others.
8. Making Or Cutting Rope
It’s easy cutting rope or anything when you have a knife but to make a rope? Out in the wilderness, rope making with the aid of a knife is vital. Strip large bark off a tree and split it into thin strips, then weave it to make your rope stronger.
9. Rescue Tool
While you see movie heroes breaking through glass with their own body or hands, you would do well to avoid it in real life. If you find yourself or someone trapped in a car or a building, you can use your knife to break a window or get the person out of the car by cutting through their seat belt.
To keep your knife in the best possible working condition, follow the points outlined below.
To take excellent care of your kitchen knives, follow the points outlined below.
To take excellent care of your knife collection, follow the points outlined below.
To clean or not to clean your vintage knives, read and then decide by the last item below:
Knife Care and Maintenance
Keep the blades dry and wipe fingerprints and moisture off, after use, with a soft all cotton cloth or chamois. This is particularly important with blades of high carbon steel. Tarnishing is a normal property of carbon steel and cannot be avoided. Applying a couple of drops of any quality oil or silicon treatment to the blade with a soft all cotton cloth will provide excellent protection. A good wax is also excellent protection. Check your knives often for possible trouble spots. If any stains appear, try removing the stain with a standard metal cleaner or polish. Blades of most stainless steels used in knives are not rustproof but are rust or stain resistance. So therefore stainless steel blades should still be kept clean and wiped dry after use, especially many of the new high carbon stainless steels like ATS-34, and CMP-T440V.
Folding knives require special care
When not in use, store knives and leather sheaths separately because leather does absorb moisture and can rust your blade. Tanning salts and acids present in the leather can rust or tarnish steel. Keep leather sheaths limber with leather preservative or mink oil.
Pocket knives require special care. Keep the locking device on folding models clean and free of debris. An occasional drop of light oil at each joint will assure smooth blade action in opening and closing. Each blade should click open smoothly and snap shut. This opening and closing is what the old timers called “Walks and Talks” well.
Keep knives sharp. A sharp knife is safer to use. A sharp knife requires minimal effort to cut and therefore has less a chance of slipping. The secret of proper sharpening is to do it regularly. Use a knife sharpener, sharpening steel, or other mechanism frequently. If you have difficulty maintaining an edge on knives, have them professionally sharpened.
Never sharpen blades on a power-driven grinding wheel, which can burn the temper from the blade. This is the type of high-speed grinder found in many home shops.
Remember that knives are cutting tools and blades are very sharp. Therefore, please exercise caution when handling your knife. And, never use your knife as chisel, pry bar, screwdriver or hammer. If your knife is a good one then a chisel, pry bar, screwdriver or hammer will cost less than a knife replacement anyway. Do not pound on the back (spine) of the blade. Keep sharp knives well away from the reach of young children.
Always cut with the edge moving away from you. Knives can have sharp razor edges so handle all knives with care and respect. Do not use for throwing unless specifically produced for that purpose (except for throwing knives).
If you carry a pocket knife in your pocket with coins or keys you will scratch the handle and bolsters. The same is true if you put all your knives in a cardboard box stacked one atop the other, they will all get scratched, which reduces their value.
Moisture and fingerprints on knives are the prime villains to avoid!
Kitchen Knife Care
Good kitchen knives can be a major investment, but if properly cared for they can last a lifetime. Cleaning knives after each use will keep them in the best condition and promote food safety. Mild soapy water cleans without damaging and washing by hand only takes a minute and really takes care of your knives. Never use a dishwasher for cleaning your good knives (kitchen or other wise). Doing so could possibly remove the temper from the edge and render the blade soft so it will not hold an edge. When cleaning your kitchen knives make sure that the blades dont touch or bump other objects. The water jets in the dishwasher can knock your knives into other hard objects. Remember that the precision ground cutting edge may be damaged if it strikes other cutlery, pots or pans.
Always use an appropriate cutting board
Always use an appropriate cutting board in the kitchen to get the most out of the sharpness of your knives. Use an cutting board material easy to clean and that is soft. We recommend natural wood or synthetic chopping boards like soft polyethylene. Never use glass, ceramic, metal, marble or any other hard surface as a cutting board as this can have an damaging effect on your knives. When chopping foods that have a tough or waxy exterior (such as bell peppers), chop with the waxy side down, as the more tender inside flesh is easier on knife blades.
Knives require a safe dry storage place, and a knife block is perfect for storing knives. Knife blocks will prevent injury and protect the blade from being damaged.
Cross-contamination is a major food-safety concern. Bacteria transferred from knives and work surfaces, such as cutting boards, to other foods can lead to food poisoning. Mild soapy water cleans and sanitizes if you wash your hands, the cutting board and the knife. We advocate thorough and consistent cleaning for knife care and food-safety!
The storage room for your kitchen knives should be low in humidity and cool.
Knife Collection Care
Remember to take excellent care of your knife collection, as you are the curator during your lifetime for future generations to enjoy. Moisture and fingerprints are the prime villains to avoid. Check your knife collection periodically and keep your knives in a dry location. A good rule to follow is to make sure the room that you store your knives in is comfortable for you to stay in, then it is more likely to be a good storage place for your knives. The storage room should be low in humidity and cool. Avoid areas with a high relative humidity or a great shift in temperatures. (Relative humidity can be high in attics and basements, especially if they are unheated or uninsinuated. Moisture from condensation can come into contact with your knives if they are stored in such areas.) If you live where it is humid use silica gel or other desiccants (a drying agent) to help keep your knives dry by placing them in a strong plastic bag that has no holes and can be closed tight. Use desiccants for short-term storage only. Make an asserted effort to wipe your knives at least once a month. Your collection can lose value very quickly if you allow your knives to deteriorate from lack of care and maintenance.
To clean or not to clean your vintage knives
First, a word of caution: If you think your knife has significant value, consult a professional. Many valuable objects (knives included) are damaged each year by people using the wrong preservation or cleaning techniques. If you are going to clean your own knives, practice on common knives until you get the hang of things.
Many people don’t even know what an EDC knife really is. They may never have heard the acronym before and now they’re just trying to figure out if they own one or if they should have one, right? Well an EDC knife is actually an Everyday Carry knife. That’s all it is. EDC. Everyday carry. But just because it’s simple doesn’t mean you don’t want to make sure you have one.
You definitely want to get a quality one because that everyday knife could be the difference between life and death someday, though you may not realize it. Finding the best EDC knife just takes some time and some knowledge about what you like and need.
What it’s good for
Of course, before you go buying an EDC knife you’re going to want to know why you need it. What’s it going to do for you? How’s it going to be useful? The truth is that an EDC knife may be one of the most important things that you take with you at any time. It’s good for helping you in normal situations and in survival ones.
On any normal day you can use a knife to open packages or for construction assistance in your home. But when it comes to survival aspects, you can use it for a whole lot more.
Weapon
If you’re forced to defend yourself you need to have something to do it with. Sure an everyday carry knife is not necessarily what you would choose but if it’s the only thing you’ve got it’s actually going to do a decent job. You have to remember this is going to be a very close quarters weapon so you’re not going to fight against someone who has a long range weapon, like a gun. Just make sure to keep your own safety in mind. For tips on how to choose the best neck knife, see our article on this topic to guide you.
First aid
When you’re out in the middle of nowhere and you need to keep yourself and your family alive it’s important to have a way of cutting out splinters, cutting up bandages or even sterilizing wounds if needed.
You may be surprised to learn all the ways that you can use a simple, small knife as a means of keeping yourself healthy when things seem to be going badly with infection or anything else even.
Building shelter
Having a proper shelter is going to be extremely important. You need to make sure that your shelter is going to be sturdy enough to protect you from different types of weather.
You can use a small knife to cut pieces of wood that can be used as stakes, to cut strips of leather that can be used to tie up the shelter or anything else your shelter needs. It’s going to take some work with a smaller knife but you’ll be surprised what it’s actually capable of if you keep the blade very sharp to cut quickly and easily.
Digging small holes
You don’t want to waste your knife on digging holes very often but you definitely do want to have it in case you need a couple smaller holes. You may be surprised at just how much good your knife will be able to do this way.
You won’t need to carry a large shovel just for a couple small holes, like the ones you’re going to put your stakes in to hold up your tent. Even a small furrow where you can put a fire is going to be important and can be done easily enough with a small knife, your EDC.
Cutting wood
Sure you’re not going to want to cut down a tree with your EDC knife. But you are going to want to have it for some small pieces of wood. Branches and sticks shouldn’t be too difficult to chop up and you can use them to make those stakes or even as tinder for your fire.
You need your knife to be sharp however and if you’re using it for cutting wood as well as other things you’ll want to make sure you keep sharpening the edge as you go. This will help you be ready for anything.
Making fire
Making a fire requires that wood we talked about already. You’ll need your knife to cut up that wood. But you can also use a knife as a surface to strike over so that you can get a spark and a flame.
You want to make sure you always have a way of building a fire after all. Next to a shelter it’s probably going to be your most important piece of the puzzle. This will keep you warm when it gets colder out and it’s definitely going to keep you safer from predators in the wild. Just make sure you keep control of your fire at all times.
The best of the best
There are a number of different EDC knives that you can choose from and each is going to have slightly different capabilities. This is important because your specific situation is going to be different from what other people may be going through or may want to be prepared for.
Remember that an EDC knife is not the same thing as a survival knife. This is going to talk about some of the best EDC knives that will help you in general and more basic situations rather than survival knives that you would typically use for survival, but that doesn’t mean the EDC can’t be useful for survival. Also, see our list on the best pocket knives to give your more choices.
Spyderco ParaMilitary2 G-10 PlainEdge Knife
This knife is probably the absolute best of the best no matter who you talk to. The reason? Well there are actually quite a few of them. This knife is a basic pocket knife with no extra’s but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to give you a whole lot of benefits.
It has the ability to do pretty much anything you want it to without really being amazing at anything in particular. That means it’s a very well-balanced knife that’s going to let you do all the things we talked about above and more.
Available in several colors, this knife is actually made in the United States and has over 300 reviews that all say the same thing, it’s a great knife.
This is a lightweight option which means it’s not going to be difficult to carry and features a compression lock to make sure you won’t pop it open by accident and the material and ergonomics of the handle make it easy to hold. With a 3 ½” blade the knife itself is 8 ¼” when opened and about 4 7/8” when closed.
If you’re looking for something a little less expensive that’s still going to give you a decent amount of capability this is a great option. It’s actually extremely inexpensive, less than $25, and yet it still has a great style, shape and ability. It’s made by RJ Martin, who is a very well-known knife maker and features an easy fold blade.
It’s also ambidextrous which is great for left-handed users who often have to special order products to make sure they fit easily and comfortably.
The G-10 handle is quality made so you can get a great grip at all times, even in less than desirable conditions. Weighing in at less than 3 ounces you definitely can’t get much lighter than this. Especially when you are getting a 3 1/8” blade and a length of approximately 7” when opened fully.
Every knife from Krenshaw offers a full lifetime warranty against any type of defect, which can help you feel confident that you’ve chosen something high quality. Easy-to-sharpen, this knife is going to help you with anything you need out in the wilderness or just at home.
If you’re looking for the high quality of a Spyderco but not the high price that usually comes with it you’re going to love this knife. Coming in under $50, this knife has many of the great features and capabilities of larger and more expensive Spyderco knives but without the high cost.
It is made both in the United States and abroad and only comes in black compared to other color offerings in higher level knives but when it comes to capability it definitely catches up quickly for the price.
The blade length is approximately 3 3/8” and the entire knife weighs only 4 ounces, making it easier to carry around with you. It has the traditional G-10 handle to provide an easier surface for holding over a long period of time.
It also has a leaf-shaped, stainless steel blade to improve cutting. The format of this knife is such that it can easily be stored on either side of the body and in preparation for right or left-handed users with the same level of ease. You will want to keep this one sharp to use whenever you head out, no matter what the purpose.
If you think that this product could be useful for you, then you can buy it here.
Columbia RiverKnife and Tool K410KXP
If your main goal is getting a knife that’s lightweight then this is probably the best option out there. Coming in still at a low price of under $40, this knife also weighs only 1.8 ounces, making it extremely easy to throw in your pocket or your bag and completely forget about.
It uses an IKBS pivot system that works smoothly to make the release simple and quick. It also has an aluminum anodized handle so you get a sleek style as well as one that’s going to provide a sturdy grip as you’re moving or using the knife.
The modified drop point blade is also designed for ease of use out of an 8Cr14MoV material with a satin finish. This is a knife that you can easily hide away but pull out whenever you need it.
The light weight doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have any strength behind it and you’ll probably be surprised just how much. The blade is a little less than 3” so it works for just about anything you might need. The entire knife is made overseas, typically in China, but comes as a high quality unit that is guaranteed to last.
With a variety of color options as well as a price under $70, this knife definitely checks off a whole lot of boxes when it comes to what you’re looking for. With a quality name behind it, the handle is FRN Bi-Directional Textured and features a David Boye dent with enlarged opening hole.
The clip located on the side is also designed to be multi-directional, allowing for right or left-handed users as well as tip-up or tip-down storage for easier and more comfortable use depending on your preferences.
Closed the entire knife is approximately 4 ¼” while it stretches to approximately 7 1/8” when opened. This is on account of the 2 7/8” blade. The blade is a VG-10 unlike the G-10 in higher priced options but is razor sharp and flat ground to make sure it’s easy to use on anything you need to cut.
This brand of knife always comes with a high quality warranty that protects you against any defects that might exist in the makeup of the blade or other parts of the knife. With over 500 reviews ranking it over 4 stars, this is definitely a great option, and only 2 ½” ounces in weight.
If you’re looking for something a little closer to a tactical knife than a pocket knife but still small enough to carry in your pocket then this is a great option. It looks just like you’d expect from a tactical knife with a dark handle and blade. The handle is made with G-10 and has an easy open disc as well as a strong clip to attach the knife to your pocket.
The blade is vacuum-heat-treated and sub-zero-quenched to protect against all types of weather as well as rust, glare and slips. It also measures 4 inches long.
With a total weight of only 5.3 ounces, this is actually a reasonably lightweight knife as well as having all of the other features. This knife, though small, has a lot of cutting power and will help you get through just about anything.
It also has a Tri Ad lock which will keep the knife from springing open when you don’t want it to. Made with some of the highest quality materials as far as the blade, this knife is designed to keep you and your family safe from absolutely anything.
This knife is also closer to a tactical knife but with all the same benefits of a traditional pocket knife as well. It’s a little more expensive though still coming in at less than $200. It’s designed to be secure with an AXISA locking mechanism but also features a simple release process as well.
It’s made of high quality material from one of the best-known companies for creating tactical and pocket knives and is made entirely in the United States. It also features a reversible clip to allow for easy use for right or left-handed users.
The G-10 handle is high quality and this one has holes throughout so you can easily attach a lanyard for a different carrying style. The black-coated blade is designed to resist rust and other irritants and the sand color of the handle is interesting enough while also being a little less ergonomic than some options.
The entire knife is also a little larger and heavier than others at approximately 15 ounces and with a total length of nearly 9”. It’s going to be a little more to carry but it’s definitely going to be worth the extra work involved.
Columbia River Knife and Tool 2903 Hissatsu Folding Knife
The black coating on this knife is designed to avoid reflection so you don’t have to worry about anyone spotting you when you’re using it and the Samurai design is to increase ease of use. Coming in at less than $50, this knife is a mix of tactical and inexpensive that you will definitely want.
It uses an outburst assisted open with an Auto-LAWKS safety to make sure you can get it open easily and quickly when you want to but that it doesn’t come open when you don’t want it to.
At only 5.8 ounces this is a reasonably lightweight knife for what it can do and especially with the 3.88” blade. Because of the safety and locking system, this knife is a virtual fixed blade, making it much easier to use when you get into more complex situations.
With over 200 reviews ranking it with nearly 5 stars there’s a good amount of people who are definitely more than impressed. The automatic outburst ability can be removed by adding a setscrew depending on the rules and regulations of your area. This is a true tactical knife designed by a soldier himself for quality and safety.
This knife may not look like much but it’s definitely a great tactical option. At less than $45, it packs a pretty good punch for the cost, and looks interesting as well.
Rather than being used for defense this knife is designed more for hunting or fishing or even working around but it has an extremely sharp, thin blade that will take care of defensive needs as well. Able to be used and opened one-handed with either hand, it deploys smoothly with a full stainless steel body and blade.
Made overseas in Japan and China as well as in the United States, the blade is very thin to provide a nice cutting capability but not as much for prying. To keep it open when needed there is a frame lock and to keep it closed when needed there is a slide lock so you can be sure that it won’t open or close when you don’t want it to.
There is no serrated edge on the blade but that definitely doesn’t take away from the usability of the knife itself. Includes a space for lanyard attachment to add a new option for carrying and operates much like a spring-loaded blade for easy opening.
Made for left-handed users, this blade offers a serrated edge and a price that’s under $100. You can choose from different colors as well as blade styles if you prefer but the knife definitely is one of the best available for a left-handed user. It’s actually considered ambidextrous so you can switch it either way.
Unlike many ambidextrous knives this one actually is ambidextrous in the opening as well as storing. It also has an AXIS locking mechanism and corrosion resistant blade for use in any conditions.
Made in the United States, this knife is approximately 8” long when unfolded and about 4.62” when fully closed. The blade itself measures 3.45” long to cut anything easily. A fast-draw style knife, there is no locking mechanism when the blade is actually closed and swift flick of the wrist can easily dislodge it.
This is good in dangerous situations where you need a quick release but not as safe as it could be in other situations. Still reasonably lightweight at only 3.25 ounces, it’s definitely a good option for anyone, especially those who are left-handed.
Another ambidextrous knife, this one is still under $200 but a little bit higher quality than the last. Made with a stainless-steel blade, it has a modified reverse Tanto design and a green handle. The entire knife is just less than 8” long when fully unfolded and has a 3.4” blade.
The pocket clip can be installed either way you prefer so it’s easy to store for someone who is right or left-handed. It’s also made to easily open with pressure applied on either side of the dual thumb studs. Intended for one-handed opening it’s also easy to pop up when needed.
The AXIS lock keeps you from getting hurt by the blade opening on its own or otherwise being defective. Designed to be rust-proof, this knife can withstand water damage and sweat, which is important if you’re heading out into the wilderness and don’t quite know how long you’re going to be out there, or what you might need this knife for.
Make sure that you clean it frequently and you’ll be ready to use it anytime the need arises. The rough texture is also designed to make it easy to hold onto no matter what you’re doing or what might get on the handle.
Knowing which knife you specifically want isn’t always going to be easy. You want to make sure that it’s going to work for whatever your needs are and you definitely want to have a sturdy product. Checking over the blade itself for the right length as well as a good amount of thickness is going to be important.
A thinner blade will work well for cutting but you don’t want to use it for prying, which can be a good use of an EDC knife as well. Make sure you know what you’re really looking for and what you want to use it for.
If you are looking for something simple and small you may also want to check out smaller pocket knives. On the other hand, for survival purposes something that is a little closer to a tactical knife may be even more important. Look for a good balance between the two and think about what else is going to be in your pack.
Do you have large survival knives that are going with you as well? If you do then you can probably get away with a smaller knife for your EDC because you have others to make up for the slack.
Overall, the key is to look at several different options when you’re ready to choose. You don’t want to pick out a knife because it has great reviews and capabilities but find out it actually isn’t good for whatever you actually wanted it to do in the first place. So how do you make sure that doesn’t happen?
You need to take some time to look at some knives and try them out. See how they fit in your hand and think about the things you’re going to do with them, that’s going to set you off to a great start.
Conclusion
A knife is going to be one of the most important tools you have when you head out to the wilderness on your own.
You’ll be able to use it for different purposes and you’ll definitely be able to keep yourself safer out there. In normal situations a good pocket knife is enough but when you’re potentially going to be on your own in a survival situation, nothing but the best EDC knife will do. So make sure that’s the knife you’re getting but remember that the best knife is the one that’s the best for you.
Description: A very common and straight forward blade shape is the straight back and just as the name suggests, the spine is perfectly straight from the handle to the tip and the belly is mostly flat until curving up to the point. The point of a straight back will always be level with the top of the handle. This blade shape can be used across many use cases as its versatility almost rivals the drop-point.
Common Use Cases: One big reason to grab a straight back blade is for the option to firmly press with your hand on the spine of the blade. These blades can also be made to be very thick, tough, and heavy, capable of chopping wood or hacking your way through dense foliage. Straight back blades have been used in combat applications as well and of course, could be used for self-defense purposes.
Drawbacks: Compared to the superbly versatile drop-point, you lose some of the cutting edge the belly has to offer by forcing the belly to meet the tip all the way at the top of the spine.
Description: The clip-point is an extremely popular and well-known blade shape due to its simplicity, versatility, and classical heritage. Bowie knives were based on this design and for good reason, the clip point style blade features a very long cutting surface with a belly that juts out straight for a nice straight edge but then trails upward to a tight point at the end. Clip-point blades generally have an unsharpened spine that, just like the belly of the knife, begins to appear straight and flat, but towards the point, it immediately drops into a convex curve such as it would look if you cut it with nail clippers.
Modern iterations of the clip point design can include a more straight area where the convex curve would be almost appearing to look like a reverse tanto. Furthermore, some manufacturers sharpen the clip-point on both the belly and the curve on the spine, making these useful for cutting rope, wire, and fishing line.
Common Use Cases: Clip-points encompass the Bowie, so technically these have a long history of combat use cases but the clip-point blade is extremely versatile and is useful for just about anything. This style of blade also truly excels at bushcraft and whittling. These are some of the most common blade shapes due to their ease of use and versatility.
Drawbacks: Clip-points aren’t generally used on tactical style knives so that may be a drawback if you want that tactical feel.
Description: The drop-point is by far the most popular blade shape today and that’s due to a simple and versatile design. This blade features a gradually sloping spine that ensures the point is centered on the axis line. The belly of the blade begins somewhat flat but also gradually slopes up exponentially until it meets the point.
Common Use Cases: Drop-points are useful for just about everything. These are commonly carried as EDC pocket knives but are found among a wide user base for many different applications. The tight point makes thrusting and stabbing quite effective and the long gradually upward sloping belly is excellent for sawing, cutting, slashing, etc and since the spine isn’t normally sharpened, the spine is typically extra thick which increases the strength of the blade.
The drop-point can often be found with serrated or partially serrated blades and some designers get funky by adding features along the spine, like sawteeth or short serrated sections. The number of variations the drop-point can be found in makes these knives a fit for just about anyone.
Drawbacks: While the drop point isn’t the best for every task it doesn’t have any serious drawbacks that come to mind since they are so versatile and found in so many variations. I guess I would choose something else, like the Tanto blade if self-defense or combat was your sole use case for the knife as there are better blades for that, and the clip-point moves through tight spaces a bit better but that really comes down to personal preference.
Description: Spear points are basically the same as the Stiletto and Needle Point but align the grind and bevel on the centerline of the blade which positions the point slightly lower than the axis, making the blade far more symmetrical. Spear points can be either double-edged or feature a false edge or swedge. This design creates a slightly easier to cut with belly and increases the strength of the point, making the knife a stronger and more durable weapon.
Common Use Cases: Many people think spear points are primarily made for combat and self-defense and while that is true in many cases, a good spear point blade can be incredibly useful across the board. Of course, if it’s double-edged you won’t be able to use your other hand as a guide but the spearpoint EDC knives that lack a double-edge are useful in many similar ways to the versatile Drop-Point or Spanto.
Drawbacks: Sacrifices some of the cutting edge along the belly to create a slim and lethal point.
Description: Daggers are essentially spear-point blades resembling the Stiletto design that are much longer in length and generally thicker as well with a cross-guard. Basically, Daggers are purpose-built combat weapons that encompass the maximum wounding effect by utilizing a long and heavy double-edged blade that comes up to a very deadly point.
Some knives that appear to have the same shape and length but lack one side being sharpened to an edge are mistakenly labeled as daggers. This can be found in many knife laws as well, so do not assume that having one edge unsharpened disqualifies your blade from any dagger related legislation. Blades with only one edge but the same shape as a dagger are technically called thrusting knives. Thrust knives rely on the point to do the work and thus don’t really need sharp edges and as a result, gain more blade rigidity.
Common Use Cases: Long deadly blades meant for combat and self-defense. Commonly used as decorative showpieces.
Drawbacks: Daggers are not very user-friendly for day-to-day tasks and are illegal to own and/or carry in many places around the world, especially in the states.
Tanto
Description: The Tanto blade with its rather high positioned reinforced point and flat grind has become extremely popular, especially in the Western world due to its effectiveness in combat and deadly appearance. The point is especially strong due to the geometry of the angle under the point and thus making the Tanto one of the best penetrating blades that remains user-friendly. These points are so strong that a well made decent-sized Tanto blade can pierce body armor quite easily.
Usefulness as a daily use knife? Eh, it’s not great but if you like the design and you also carry a knife you want to utilize in a self-defense situation, the Tanto might just be right for you. The reason a Tanto blade lacks in day-to-day normal usage is due to the cutting edge being really flat with no curved belly, making the total cutting area of the blade much less than an equally as long drop-point blade.
US vs JP Tantos: The US version of the Tanto came much later than the Japanese version and features a much stronger point with that notorious flat-faced cutting edge on the bottom near the tip. The Japanese version has a slightly curved cutting edge where that flat section is on the US version giving it a bit more versatility but less strength at the point.
Common Use Cases: Combat and where excellent piercing capability is needed. Many people will EDC a Tanto because it looks cool, offers exceptional self-defense, and can be used for many tasks despite not being as versatile as something like a clip or drop point blade.
Drawbacks: Lacks versatility compared to the clip or drop point blade shapes.
Description: These are actually relatively new compared to many of the shapes on this list and, as the name reads, is a Tanto flipped upside down. An excellent Benchmade designer named Warren Osborne made these especially popular among premium EDC enthusiasts. Some reverse Tantos can be a little different from his designs though such as the design of Bob Dozier, who designed a blade that has a more curved belly like a drop-point but has that harsh slope on the end of the spine.
Either way, reverse Tanto blades really only have one major difference from the regular Tanto blade and that is the top of the spine having that harsh usually flat but angled drop off to the point. This makes the blade tip easier to work through tight spaces as the point is a bit thinner overall. One last comment here is that the Dozier design sets the point lower in relation to the midpoint than a spearpoint does, trading off some of its belly length for perhaps better tip control.
Common Use Cases: I think these are designed mostly just to appear different than other knives on the market. Both versions of the Reverse Tanto offer great versatility for EDC applications and with the extra material gone from the spine near the tip, these blades offer pinpoint tip control when maneuvering through touch or thick material.
Drawbacks: The tip of the blade won’t be nearly as rigid and strong as a traditional drop-point and thus isn’t as versatile and tough overall. You’re trading off strength at the tip for a thinner more controllable experience.
Description: This blade shape may seem quite alien to those of us living in the West but these are quite common on the Eastern side of the world as they were originally created by the Nepalese for farming and later used by armies in Asia as combat weapons. Now the Kurki blade is more of a novelty and showpiece than something a lot of people regularly use, however, people still do use them and they are quite handy for hacking through thick foliage or for some farming applications. I suppose you could keep a big old Kukri around for some good home-based self-defense applications as well!
These blades kind of look like super sharp boomerangs attached to a handle. The blade has a distinct recurve right in the middle of the belly with the spine also curving downwards towards the tip in relatively the same place as where the belly curves in.
Common Use Cases: Originally created for farming, hunting, and combat but now used for bushwacking.
Drawbacks: Not exactly something you would carry around with you on a daily basis and is often replaced by other blade styles for its primary uses. These are typically heavy and would require some serious practice to use effectively.
Trailing Point (AKA Skinner, Upward Curve, or Upswept)
Description: The purpose of a trailing point is to create a large amount of cutting surface using an upswept belly. This creates a very long cutting edge in a shorter overall package length and is especially useful for skinning and slicing. Although most popular in food preparation, some people use these to clean fish or field dress their hunt. Fillet knives are also classified as trailing point blades.
Common Use Cases: Filleting, food preparation, general usage, etc. The trailing point is a very versatile utility blade that offers exceptional cutting length along its upswept belly. The point is not very strong but this is the tradeoff of having a very long and easy to use cutting edge.
Drawbacks: As mentioned before, the point lacks the strength to be used as a piercing blade to tradeoff for that long and handy cutting edge along the belly.
Description: Talon shaped blades encompass a spine and belly that curve in a concave fashion. Aside from looking awfully menacing, these are really only used for self-defense or activities that require a pulling motion such as cutting webbing or clothing.
The tiger claw inspired Karambit style was first developed by the Minangkabau in West Sumatra as a general-use tool to cut with a pulling motion in farming and textile work. As it spread out of Indonesia, it took a more lethal route, being used by people in combat.
People train for years to learn how to effectively use the Karambit in combat and/or self-defense. It can be very deadly but the Karambit is not user-friendly nor is it a good knife to utilize for someone inexperienced. If you are looking for a general self-defense solution, I would not recommend the Karambit unless you are willing to properly train with using this specific style.
Common Use Cases: Very popular in some Martial Arts. Used commonly for self-defense or use-cases in which a pulling motion is warranted. The tip of the blade is designed to slash while pulling the blade in deeper to cause more damage.
Drawbacks: Severely lacks versatility and utility and isn’t very effective for outward cutting as it would require you to angle your wrist outwards as you move away from your body, limiting your range of motion.
Description: These are technically part of the dagger family but are usually found in much smaller form factors than what most people would consider a technical dagger. Needle-point blades appear exactly as how they sound, the point comes to a sharp needle-like end while the blade itself is long and slender featuring double-edged sides.
This form factor is almost exclusively designed for thrusting and stabbing with its low surface friction point and thus are primarily used for combat or self-defense. It is not a very useful form factor for EDC, camping, hunting, etc and since both edges are generally sharpened, it’s hard to handle the knife and push through thick materials when sawing or cutting. Furthermore, these blades lack tensile strength since the edges are sharpened and there is no thick spine to support the blade.
Sometimes these blades can be found with one edge or even both edges unsharpened. These are technically called thrusting blades but you may find them mislabeled as needle or stiletto knives. The term “Stiletto” is Italian and technically the “Stiletto blade” was designed in Italy in the 15 century, however, it’s unclear whether there were other shortened double-edged blades used by other civilizations before that time period so we cannot conclude that Italians designed the first shortened daggers. These may also commonly be coined as switchblades and as such, can be illegal to own or carry in many places around the world.
Common Use Cases: Combat or self-defense. Otherwise used as show-pieces.
Drawbacks: Like daggers, these aren’t useful for much outside of combat or self-defense.
Sheepfoot
Description: The Sheepfoot is similar to the Assist style blade but usually comes with a more rounded off point than the Assist blades flat blunted tip. Both styles are ample for sawing and cutting where penetration would like to be avoided. These are excellent blades to use if your only task is sawing or cutting, for example, a commercial fisherman using a Sheepfoot blade exclusively to cut line and netting.
Common Use Cases: Any sawing or cutting applications where penetration of the tip is to be avoided.
Drawbacks: Having a rounded off point means no stabbing capabilities.
Description: Have you read our take on the straight back blade? If so, take that idea and flip it upside down and then sharpen the opposite side, now you have a Wharncliffe. The cutting edge is perfectly flat and sharp from tip to grip with a spine that begins flat from the grip but then slowly curves downwards into the tip.
Common Use Cases: This blade shape is especially useful for opening boxes or as a letter opener. This particular shape is difficult to cut soft tissue and as such may be a safer option to use in a warehouse or office when working in close quarters to other people.
Drawbacks: The obvious drawback here is the lack of curve along the belly and the point is basically useless.
Description: The Spey blade shape is pretty much solely designed to cut through flesh with accuracy and maneuverability at the forefront of attention. Spey points are commonly used as a scalpel or speying tool.
The shape is kind of a reverse tanto with the top of the spine near the point being blunted and flat, moving the point really low along what otherwise could be called a drop-point style belly. This positioning of the tip allows for minimal penetration capability while keeping the tip low and easy to move through flesh with the belly of the knife at an angle.
Common Use Cases: Speying or anything you would use a scalpel for.
Drawbacks: Really only designed to spey animals or use as a scalpel to cut flesh so versatility and overall tensile strength is low.
Description: Dao blades were traditionally used solely by the Chinese as single-edged short and long swords. These blade shapes consist of long and flat spines and bellies that, at the end near the point, encompass a thick tip. On the belly side of the tip, you get something resembling a drop point with its gradual upward curve to the tip. On the spine you see an upward curve that rounds out into the tip, giving the end of the sword a significant boost in weight and momentum when being swung.
These blades are obviously not EDC compatible in their original form but some manufacturers have changed things slightly to make them easier to use for regular tasks. Not many EDC or pocket knives come with these blades but if you do get a long blade it would be excellent for hacking through dense foliage.
By the way, these are actually pronounced with a “T” sound, like “Tau”.
Common Use Cases: Traditionally used as Chinese swords but now used mostly as showpieces.
Drawbacks: Extra weight at the end makes this sword style blade shape fatiguing to swing and not very agile.
Nessmuk
Description: While the official Nessmuk origin isn’t quite clear, the blade has been used by many different groups of people around the world and is hailed for its excellent slicing capability and performance in food preparation. It is rumored that a man in the mid-1800s named George Washington Sears specially requested the shape for his own personal use and since he was a known traveler and explorer, the knife shape was adopted by people he met along his excursions.
This blade shape is unique but does resemble a trailing or skinning style blade shape. The belly swoops upwards just like you would expect on a skinning blade but the spine is where the shape takes a different form. There is a large upward bump located near the point on the spine that I can only imagine simply adds weight to the end of the knife making it easier to slice through thick and heavy materials.
Common Use Cases: Bushwacking, food preparation, or skinning applications.
Drawbacks: Heavier than a similarly sized skinning knife, however, this may be an advantage too depending on what you need to use the knife for. These really aren’t very common and thus not many designs or manufacturers carry knives with this blade shape.
“Do you have any other blade types to add, please leave a message？？ ”
As a woodcutter who has been working outdoors for a long time, I didn’t spend a lot of time in front of the computer. Fortunately, I was invited by topomart.com and it took me some time to write this article. To be honest, it’s really hard for me to write some words about knives in front of the computer
Before you landed here, you may have visited another site or two that feels they are the expert advice on the best EDC knives. After all, some sites do merely regurgitate shopping platform reviews. But let us be honest. Simply taking photos of knives you have bought in no way implies that you have either carried or actually used said knives in any way. Besides, the more knives you own, the less any one of them gets used. You may often see some reviews on youtube or other social networking sites and forums, but reviews that are not actually used are unreliable.Now I listed some of knives reviews，hope it be useful for you choosing edc knife.
The first folding pocket knife based on my personal preference. I’ve carried it for 2 years as part of my everyday carry. Yes, a famous brand knife made the top on your list, but the knife in question had nothing but positive reviews from those close to me that have carried it. Read on for a full description of each of my 5 folding pocket knives.
Folding knife: #1 Harnds Talisman CK9168
The Harnds Talisman is a chinese designed and made knife that stacks up an impressive value. It’s a larger unassisted flipper running on ball bearings for under $40 most places. topomart.com sent this to me so I could tell you what I think. This knife is running on small bearings and flips really smoothly right out of the box. It’s an unassisted flipper, Many budget blades or even higher end knives need some break in time. The Talisman was really smooth right out of the box and centering was great. It did have a bit of excess oil that needed wiped off but that’s not a bad thing. The flipper seems to be at a pretty good angle but not perfect. It has some jimping on the flipper itself to aid in deploymen The blade is a modified drop point shape, that’s full flat ground in a satin finish and made of AUS-8 Steel. I like drop point blades and I find it to be a great slicer both in practical everyday tasks like opening packages and envelopes, and food prep. AUS-8 is an ok steel, slightly better than 8Cr13Mov. Some big knife companies like SOG use it on a lot of knives that cost way more. Out of the box sharpness was good but not hair popping sharp like some of the Ganzo’s I have gotten. This should be a quick touch up though and then it will be great, just don’t expect it to hold an edge without some up keep. The grinds on each side of the blade are nice and even. Lockup is a little early on this liner lock. I would guess this will wear in and improve as you use the knife.
Folding knife: #2 Ganzo Firebird FH41
I’ve been carrying this knife in my pocket as an EDC for a few months now. For this, it has been totally great. The action is smooth. The knife eats cardboard boxes. I use the Ganzo Firebird FH41 to slice apples and I haven’t seen any discoloration or oxidation from the D2 tool steel.
Last weekend was the first time I’ve gone hiking in a long while. I decided to go hiking with a wife, so we limited ourselves to nearly hiking. It was the perfect opportunity to put it to my backpack and only rely on my folding knife.
However, that’s not the point. Here, I wanted to talk about the effectiveness of this knife as an outdoor knife. Overall, it rips. I am more than impressed by how well built this knife feels. Batoning wood with the loose blade wasn’t a worry when creating a fire board. Carving a spindle from cottonwood was easy and I was able to make a friction fire using my folding knife as a hand hold.
Fast forward to a week later, I’m sitting at my desk and cant find a noticeable knick or chip in my blade. It’s still as sharp as ever.
You’d never know this was a cheap knife. Seriously. Hand to God, if this was a Pepsi challenge and you asked me how much this knife would retail for, I’d say at least over $100. the quality of the build feels great. The fit and finish is fantastic. The micarta scales are ever so slightly textured, adding a refinement you don’t see in a knife at this price.
Folding knife: #3 Land 910
I finally received this knife from topomart months ago.
The knife came in a plain blue cardboard box.Out of the box the knife is sharp and has no bladeplay at all.The centering is perfect, nice finish issues.
Worth the money, nothing fancy, worker’s blade, one that will fill most tasks needed from an EDC knife and one that you won’t baby (because of the price and the construction). For sure the best sub $30 knife I have ever handled. Nicer than the Spyderco Tenacious. Smooth, perfectly centered blade and good looking. Good liner-lock alternative to Ganzo knives and a way to try the Sebenza’s ergos and blade in action.I hope that after making a name for themselves with this one, Land will continue to cheer us with the same quality of construction, but other, more interesting and original designs.
Freetiger FT21 equipps D2 stainless steel blade and is capable of a variety of cutting tasks
Its beautiful design is like your good partner and great for holiday comfort food prep, the upgraded drop-point blade is an excellent slicer and the sharp tip is good for detailed work.
FT21 can be easily opened with one hand by using the thumb stud.
A secure G-lock keeps the blade locked open for safe operation.
The hole on handle allows attachment to a lanyard or keychain. Overcome any difficulties and enjoy the outdoor life during the holidays,give the gift of FreeTiger.
High-Performance D2 Steel
D2 steel is a high-performance steel ，has excellent edge retention and good corrosion resistance and hardness.D2 steel is one of the most widely used steels in the tool field, D2 steel is ideal for knife applications which place high demands on edge sharpness, edge stability and hardness.
Black Blade Coating & Sanding Finished
FreeTiger FT21 has two styles, black handle one with sanding blade and brown handle one with black coating. black blade coating enhances a knife’s aesthetics and complements its end-use.There is a large curved groove on the back of the blade, which not only increases the aesthetics, but also plays a huge role in the work that needs to be knocked on the back of the blade.
Smoothly Opening Deployment
Built in ball bearing system, with thumb stud enables smooth, secure, fast one-handed blade deployment. Apply manual pressure to the thumb stud with a push, and the blade opens smoothly and locks into place for confident handling without premature closure.
Convenient Pocket Clip
Pocket clip is standard configuration for a portable folding knife . Hang it on belt,pocket,backpack,so you can get it easily when you need it to cutting, hang it back when end working,so handy!
Before making knife , knifemaker always need to evaluate steels and their performance, and decide which steel is suitable for the knife.
Every blade steel undergoes evaluation on the basis of five criteria, each one representing fundamentally desirable attributes that contribute to knife performance. The tests and measurements involved in these aspects of evaluation vary from longstanding laboratory methods to more nearly anecdotal observations based on real-world use.
Hardness—As it applies to steel, the standard laboratory measurement of hardness uses the Rockwell tester and its associated measurement scales to indicate resistance to changes in the shape of materials under impact. For knife steels, the Rockwell C scale provides these indentation resistance values, expressed as numbers followed by the designation “HRC” to indicate the specific Rockwell scale. Rockwell measurements do not correlate with any real-world dimensions. They simply provide indications of hardness that can be used to make comparisons among materials that have undergone comparable testing. Among knife blades, Rockwell measurements commonly range from 56 HRC to 62 HRC.
An alloy’s hardness can vary based on its elemental chemistry and as a result of the heat treatment it receives. Additionally, because many alloys, including D2, list a range of ingredient content for one or more of their component elements, the hardness of one manufacturer’s rendition of an alloy can show performance characteristics that differ from another manufacturer’s equivalent. Likewise, one batch of a steel may differ from another batch.
Toughness—A measure of a steel’s ability ability to bend without breaking and resume its shape without deformation, toughness also correlates with tensile strength. As toughness drops, brittleness rises.
D2 sometimes earns a reputation as a wear-resistant steel that lacks toughness, especially in comparison to other steels that also do not qualify to carry the designation “stainless.” Heat treatment temperatures, the number of tempering steps, and the way the steel is processed between steps can make or break D2’s toughness, potentially bringing it up so it balances with the alloy’s hardness. Blade thickness also plays a role in determining toughness. Thicker blades tend to show less flexibility than thinner blades, and some thin blades fail to return to their original conformation after exposures to bending forces.
To increase the toughness of D2, some steel manufacturers have created versions of the alloy produced through powder metallurgy rather than through conventional steel making procedures. The field of powder metallurgy arose as a response to the negative effects of alloy segregation that appear in traditional alloy manufacturing.
In the time-tested methods of steel production, the producer mixes iron, carbon, and other elements together in an electric arc furnace. This molten material pours into molds that form it into ingots. The act of cooling a large chunk of metal causes its alloying elements to separate, turning what emerged from the furnace as a cohesive, homogeneous mixture into an inconsistent blend. Slicing up an ingot and sampling the chemistry of various parts shows that some areas contain more of an element than others do, with pockets forming throughout the cooled metal. In alloys such as D2, which contain complex mixtures of numerous elements, the resulting steel offers inconsistent performance. Even through post production treatment can overcome some of the effects of segregation, it cannot restore full homogeneity to the alloy.
Powder metallurgy enables finished steel to retain its uniform chemistry and therefore its performance consistency. Instead of creating large ingots, the process miniaturizes the ingot down to the size of a grain of powder. To do so, this advanced production method melts the ingredients of an alloy recipe in a vacuum chamber, and then mists it through a nozzle into a high pressure blast of inert gas. The stream of molten steel turns into tiny droplets, which cool immediately into equally small individual ingots. The powder enters an autoclave in which it undergoes sintering, the combination of heat and pressure, which forms the particles into a solid mass. At the same time, sintering changes the chemistry of the steel, binding elements together at the molecular level. A quenching step rapidly drops the mixture’s temperature, again changing molecular structures to make the combination of elements a permanent state. Low-temperature heat treatment counters brittleness.
Wear resistance—Twin forces conspire to wear away a piece of steel during use. Abrasion removes bits of material from a blade that encounters rough surfaces. Through adhesion, particles detach from other surfaces and attach themselves to blade steel. D2’s performance in the area of wear resistance, its ability to avoid being worn away or falling prey to foreign matter dislodged from other materials, provides much of the basis for its rave reviews as a blade steel.
Remember that D2 was developed as an alloy for use in stamping dies, cutting blades in production equipment, and other metal parts that must repeat a single step under pressure countless times without changing shape. This constellation of attributes explains what attracted knife makers to D2 as a blade steel. Its original use defines and requires considerable wear resistance, an attribute that also contributes to superior blade performance. Even D2 can be outdone in terms of wear resistance, however, by alloys with more complex elemental chemistries and especially by steels produced through powder metallurgy.
Despite the huge advantages of D2’s wear resistance, these strengths also can serve as disadvantages. Specifically, D2 can be difficult to machine and sharpen. Although D2 blades hold their edges through long periods of wear, getting them sharp is a time-consuming task that requires expertise and the right tools.
Corrosion resistance—When a knife blade encounters salt water, acidic liquids such as citrus fruit juice, humid environments, and sustained exposure to moisture, the blade’s corrosion resistance describes its ability to avoid demonstrating pitting and rust. By their very nature, stainless steels are designed to display corrosion resistance, although even a stainless steel will begin to react to corrosive substances after prolonged exposure. Even though D2 does not qualify as a stainless steel, it nonetheless offers better corrosion resistance than many other non-stainless and high-carbon steels can muster.
When corrosion materializes, it begins with the appearance of a patina, a darkening of the surface of the metal. To prevent the development and progression of corrosive effects, a D2 blade should be kept clean and dry, maintained outside of its sheath to avoid exposure to the moisture that can build up in a form fitted leather or thermoplastic storage accessory. A suitable coating of wax also helps forestall corrosion’s ill effects on D2, which can include lowered edge retention along with compromised surface characteristics.
Edge retention—Measurements of edge retention may lack the long history of laboratory quantification and validation that characterize other steel performance criteria such as hardness, but the function of a cutting blade dictates that its ability to stay sharp serves as a basis for evaluating the choice of steel used in creating it. At the same time, a knife that holds an edge through long periods of wear may be the same knife that requires a skilled hand to sharpen effectively and correctly.
Unfortunately, some of these performance criteria compete with one another for supremacy. Hardness often trades off with toughness. As corrosion resistance rises, edge retention can drop, and vice versa. The alloy chemistry that fosters a dominant showing in one area of evaluation can stymie a steel’s ability to compete in another.
The nature of these unavoidable compromises underscores one of the reasons that no single steel presents a commandingly dominant argument to make it the primary, let alone the only, choice for all blades. Of course, some blades are designed to accommodate needs that draw less on some performance criteria than on others. For example, a blade that requires extreme hardness to withstand the pounding impact involved in batoning wood in the field may not require the toughness necessary to survive operations that can cause the blade to bend, or it may survive the bending without breakage but not without becoming permanently deformed.
How is D2?
The following table shows the chemical composition of D2 steel.
Element
Content (%)
C
1.40 – 1.60
Mn
0.60
Si
0.60
Co
1.00
Cr
11.00 – 13.00
Mo
0.70 – 1.20
V
1.10
P
0.03
Ni
0.30
Cu
0.25
S
0.03
As a word: D2 is High-Carbon, High-Chromium, Cold-Work Steel
D2 tool steels are used for long run tooling applications, where wear resistance is important, such as blanking or making a wear resistance knife.
When we talk folding knife we always talk spyderco,CRKT,Buck,Benchmade, and so on, yes, I have to say they are popular brand,and provide great knife. But when it comes to owning the best and affordable pocket knives, you always have to consider price and performance. This means that the knife has to be affordable and play good performance, and the various functions other than just being portable.
Are you looking for some affordable pocket knife?
No worries as we get to get share with you a guide that should help you get started. You will definitely have an idea of which one is your ideal affordable knife.
1.FreeTiger FT903
FT903 made by a new manufacturer from China,D2 steel blade and G-10 Handle is the knife’s base collocation, also with droppoint blade , ball bearing system, smooth flipper open action, beautiful look & handsome was mentioned in large of reviews!
At first glance it looks a lot like Spyderco Delica’s，I have to admit that there are many references to Spyderco Delica’s. This Ganzo F759M is definitely an excellent choice for this price level.
Overall the F759M is pretty good for the value. I have quite a few of them and this one has more pros than cons.Blade is razor sharp out of the box,locking mechanism works great and there’s no blade wobble,blade itself is perfectly centered when opened and closed.
I have to say that CK9168 is one of the most popular Chinese brand knives recently.This Harnds CK9168 Talisman is a visually very attractive and elegant knife.Fresh out of the box has the smoothest opening ever, thanks to ceramic bearings. “Pocket Clip” that completely hides the knife.Very good finishes, better than average in Chinese quality knives.
Enlan EL-01 with liner lock, the size like to CK9168,with 8Cr13mov steel blade and the price is better. Strong, sturdy folder with an excellent fit and finish, flipper opening system, G-10 handle with good ergonomics, massive blade (thickness: 3.7 mm),several screws on the handle,strong, thick liners and lock-bar. There are two options, plain blade and half serrated.
The FREETIGER FT901 with razor sharp D2 blade, it is lightweight , when you hold it on your handle, you will find any cutting task become so easy. the price is so nice, it will be your one choice if you want to buy a good knife at the best price.
How to choose a afforadable and quality folding knife for yourself?
1.PRICE
If you are buying a tool with a very limited budget, you must consider the price. Usually you can buy a very good pocket knife with a budget of more than 100$, but the budget of 100$ is not affordable for everyone who wants to have a pocket knife. The most ideal price should be between 20$-50$, and the price varies according to the material and structure of the tool.
2.BLADE MATERIAL
For the price of 20$-50$, the blade material can be D2, 12C27, 12C48N, 440C, 8CR13Mov, 9CR13Mov.The blade material is always important as it determines just well the model will last. As the type of material, large of people will choose D2 knives. And the other thing is steel use. Not all the stainless steel types are great in terms of performance and durability. What you do is being sure the type that you get to choose can deliver on impressive durability and retain the edge for longer.
3.HANDLE TYPE
The handle plays an important role when it comes to the ergonomics. It is the reason you might want to get a model that delivers on the best ergonomics with the design and material of the handle. Of the price $20~50$ ,common materials include Plastic, Wood, G-10, and Micarta. Each of these materials are good in terms of making sure you end up with a good performance knife for outdoor working.
4.Locking Secure Mechanism
You always have to look at the locking mechanism. The common mechanisms include the manual opening, switchable or automatic, and assisted opening mechanism. You are likely to get the manual method being common but you can also get the others in some common knives. All are good to some extent. This will all depend on the personal preference so that you can end up with the best knife for you.
The designer of FT11 is an experienced outdoor explorer who knows the practicality of outdoor folding knives very well. FT11 has gone through several versions of the design, and it finally faces the market. 14C28N blade and left and right interchangeable pockets Clip, an ideal folding knife for outdoor enthusiasts.
When you camping or hiking, you always need to cutting something such as fruit,rope,wood,meat,and so on. A folding knife will be your useful tool, an easy carry knife will be every important for daily outdoor activity, FT11 with the exchangeable clip(right hand or left hand) is the ideal choice.
FT11 black stone wash blade made the whole knife looks more domineering,The handling of every detail is also in place, the main screw, the thumb cone, and the anti-slip groove, all these are what a good knife should have，that is FT11!
D2 steel is a high-performance steel ，has excellent edge retention and good corrosion resistance and hardness.D2 steel is one of the most widely used steels in the tool field, D2 steel is ideal for knife applications which place high demands on edge sharpness, edge stability and hardness.
FreeTiger FT21 has two styles, black handle one with sanding blade and brown handle one with black coating. black blade coating enhances a knife’s aesthetics and complements its end-use.There is a large curved groove on the back of the blade, which not only increases the aesthetics, but also plays a huge role in the work that needs to be knocked on the back of the blade.
Built in ball bearing system, with thumb stud enables smooth, secure, fast one-handed blade deployment. Apply manual pressure to the thumb stud with a push, and the blade opens smoothly and locks into place for confident handling without premature closure.
Pocket clip is standard configuration for a portable folding knife . Hang it on belt,pocket,backpack,so you can get it easily when you need it to cutting, hang it back when end working,so handy!
