Pocket knife?

N

Norboo

Joined
Feb 18, 2016
Messages
19
What is good pocket knife for every day carry?

Edited: I apologize for my vagueness. I do not know much about knives at all.
I do want a quality pocket knife, something I can carry with me (small and light). Hopefully, for a very long long time.

Other than that, I have no clue what I should be looking for.

Hackenslash said:
Hi Norboo, welcome to Blade Forums.

We'd love to help you, but we need a little more information first. You've had some of the questions posed to you already, but I wanted to try to distill them down into one post.

1. Where do you live? We ask this to determine any knife laws that might apply to you. We really only need Nation or State (unless you're in a wacko nutjob Municipality like NYC or Chicago
I live in Northern Virginia



2. What are your intended uses for a knife? Some things to consider are:
A. Opening packages
C. Breaking down cardboard boxes
F. Emergency and rescue
I. Pocket Bling (no, really...it is a thing)

A, C, F, I


3. How do you picture yourself carrying the knife?
A. Loose in pocket
I would guess


4. What is your budget?
C. Less than $100
D. Less than $200
E. No budget
Around this range


5. You mentioned "small and light". I think most of us would equate that to a sub 3" blade and sub 4 ounce weight. Does this seem to describe what would fit for your definition of "small and light"?
Around 3" sounds about right

6. Do you have any specific conditions that might affect what knife would be right for you? Trashed fingernails? Arthritic joints? Large or small hands? Left handed or right handed?
Right handed and avg. hands

7. Do you have any experience with maintaining a knife edge?
Not much experience


8. Take a look at Blade HQ. http://www.bladehq.com/cat--Manual-Knives--45. They have a great search engine to set limits of price, size, style and you can begin to get an idea what you like. Once you've found some models that peak your interest, let us know what they are and we'll be able to better suggest options for you.
Click to expand...

Thank you.
 
Last edited:
How much do you want to spend? What size can you carry. Liner lock, framelock, slip joint? Any preferences on steel?
 
I love this post.

We're on a forum called "BladeForums" which is a pretty generic name.

This is the "General" section.

And that is the most generic topical question you could possibly ask.

I don't mean that as an insult, nor am I being snide. I legitimately appreciate how perfectly generic this is.

Anyway, there are literally hundreds of correct answers to this question. You would be well served by stating some specifics, like your local knife laws, your budget, the kinds of cutting tasks you generally encounter, the style of blade you have found has worked for you in the past, the method in which you prefer to carry the knife, any features you require or prefer the knife to have or to not have, and any other helpful details you might think of to help narrow down the number of potential suggestions that could be made here.

Some good basic suggestions:
- Swiss Army Knife
- Spyderco Tenacious
- Kershaw Leek
- Cold Steel Tuff Lite
- Ontario Utilitac II
- Svord Peasant
- Buck 110

Some more premium options:
- Spyderco Manix
- Spyderco Paramilitary II
- Buck Marksman
- Zero Tolerance 0801
- Zero Tolerance 0808
- Benchmade Griptilian
- Benchmade Barrage
- Kershaw Knockout
- Cold Steel American Lawman
- Cold Steel Voyager

Those are some pretty standard suggestions and are widely available and represent good value if you shop around a little. Better suggestions can be had with more specific information.
 
Seriously, we're gonna need information to help you, the more the better.

Without any other parameters I'll throw out the Byrd Meadowlark. It's inexpensive, well built, cuts well, lightweight and has a decent warranty.

Beyond that need to know more.
 
I have many knives and when I hear "pocket knife" I still think of old time knives...like Case, Old Timer, etc.
 
Are you looking for a modern folding knife, or a traditional slipjoint pocketknife.
For a pocketknife is recommended a case sodbuster Jr.
 
I do own several dozens of quality folders, Case, Queen, Cattaraugus, etc., yet I only carry one of these on special occasions. My everyday carriers are Rough Riders. The construction is excellent, and they're as sharp as the dickens. And the best thing is that they're relatively inexpensive. I carry a large congress that I think I may have payed around 14 or 15 bucks for, but own several others as well...its just for now the congress does it for me. I don't think you can go wrong with these...if you break it, you're only out a few bucks and you pick up another one tomorrow.
 
Last edited:
There are a bunch of "good" knives . The problem with a lot of us, myself included, is the need to constantly search to find a "better" knife. That in turn leads to the quest for the "best" knife.

So the question you better ask is who makes the best bucket to store all your good knives in?:)
 
Comeuppance said:
I love this post.

We're on a forum called "BladeForums" which is a pretty generic name.

This is the "General" section.

And that is the most generic topical question you could possibly ask.

I don't mean that as an insult, nor am I being snide. I legitimately appreciate how perfectly generic this is.

.
Click to expand...

YwizWJL.jpg




OP: how about the Spyderco Slysz Bowie? It's in my pocket right now and it's a good pocket knife :).
 
Put a Swiss army knife in your right pocket and a Kershaw Leek in your left. See which one you like more and go from there. If you like the SAK, then try a GEC or Case pattern. If you like the leek then try a spyderco or Benchmade. It's a journey. Oh, and get a Mora and an Opinel along the way.
 
I apologize for my vagueness. I do not know much about knives at all.
I do want a quality pocket knife, something I can carry with me (small and light). Hopefully, for a very long long time.

Other than that, I have no clue what I should be looking for.
 
Norboo said:
I apologize for my vagueness. I do not know much about knives at all.
I do want a quality pocket knife, something I can carry with me (small and light). Hopefully, for a very long long time.

Other than that, I have no clue what I should be looking for.
Click to expand...
That won't cut it. You need to give more to go on. Where do you live, are laws an issue restricting knife size? How small is small? How much of a factor are looks and cost?

Or comment on your reaction to popular choices such as the Spyderco Delica, Dragonfly 2, or Kershaw Skyline.

In the end, you just have to make the leap, try one and learn what you like.
 
Norboo said:
I apologize for my vagueness. I do not know much about knives at all.
I do want a quality pocket knife, something I can carry with me (small and light). Hopefully, for a very long long time.

Other than that, I have no clue what I should be looking for.
Click to expand...

OK... if you don't have any idea about steel, lock type, size, etc., start by telling us what you'll do with it. What will you cut? Do you have any experience with sharpening a knife?
 
swonut said:
Put a Swiss army knife in your right pocket and a Kershaw Leek in your left. See which one you like more and go from there. If you like the SAK, then try a GEC or Case pattern. If you like the leek then try a spyderco or Benchmade. It's a journey. Oh, and get a Mora and an Opinel along the way.
Click to expand...
^ This is probably the best starting point that you could pull off out of a hundred answers from this post! I would also throw in a brand called rough rider just because they are very high quality for under $15.
 
Spyderco PM2 off the For Sale Forum for about $95 Delivered. If you don't like and haven't abused it you can resell it for about what you paid- you lose shipping and paypal fees.
 
Another vote for your first knife being a Swiss Army Knife. Search the internet for their website and look at all the choices.

A good basic knife is the "Pioneer" with alox scales; if you want to saw wood get the "Farmer."
 
Hi Norboo, welcome to Blade Forums.

We'd love to help you, but we need a little more information first. You've had some of the questions posed to you already, but I wanted to try to distill them down into one post.

1. Where do you live? We ask this to determine any knife laws that might apply to you. We really only need Nation or State (unless you're in a wacko nutjob Municipality like NYC or Chicago).

2. What are your intended uses for a knife? Some things to consider are:
A. Opening packages
B. Opening envelops or mail
C. Breaking down cardboard boxes
D. Cutting plastic shrink wrap, straps or zip ties
E. Food preparation
F. Emergency and rescue
G. Firewood prep and light bushcraft
H. Whittling and wood crafting
I. Pocket Bling (no, really...it is a thing)
J. Self Defense (I put this last because it's probably the worst possible use for an EDC folder...)

3. How do you picture yourself carrying the knife?
A. Loose in pocket
B. Clipped to pocket
C. Clipped or threaded onto belt
D. Something else?

4. What is your budget?
A. Less than $20
B. Less than $50
C. Less than $100
D. Less than $200
E. No budget

5. You mentioned "small and light". I think most of us would equate that to a sub 3" blade and sub 4 ounce weight. Does this seem to describe what would fit for your definition of "small and light"?

6. Do you have any specific conditions that might affect what knife would be right for you? Trashed fingernails? Arthritic joints? Large or small hands? Left handed or right handed?

7. Do you have any experience with maintaining a knife edge?

8. Take a look at Blade HQ. http://www.bladehq.com/cat--Manual-Knives--45. They have a great search engine to set limits of price, size, style and you can begin to get an idea what you like. Once you've found some models that peak your interest, let us know what they are and we'll be able to better suggest options for you.
 
Hackenslash said:
Hi Norboo, welcome to Blade Forums.

We'd love to help you, but we need a little more information first. You've had some of the questions posed to you already, but I wanted to try to distill them down into one post.

1. Where do you live? We ask this to determine any knife laws that might apply to you. We really only need Nation or State (unless you're in a wacko nutjob Municipality like NYC or Chicago).

2. What are your intended uses for a knife? Some things to consider are:
A. Opening packages
B. Opening envelops or mail
C. Breaking down cardboard boxes
D. Cutting plastic shrink wrap, straps or zip ties
E. Food preparation
F. Emergency and rescue
G. Firewood prep and light bushcraft
H. Whittling and wood crafting
I. Pocket Bling (no, really...it is a thing)
J. Self Defense (I put this last because it's probably the worst possible use for an EDC folder...)

3. How do you picture yourself carrying the knife?
A. Loose in pocket
B. Clipped to pocket
C. Clipped or threaded onto belt
D. Something else?

4. What is your budget?
A. Less than $20
B. Less than $50
C. Less than $100
D. Less than $200
E. No budget

5. You mentioned "small and light". I think most of us would equate that to a sub 3" blade and sub 4 ounce weight. Does this seem to describe what would fit for your definition of "small and light"?

6. Do you have any specific conditions that might affect what knife would be right for you? Trashed fingernails? Arthritic joints? Large or small hands? Left handed or right handed?

7. Do you have any experience with maintaining a knife edge?

8. Take a look at Blade HQ. http://www.bladehq.com/cat--Manual-Knives--45. They have a great search engine to set limits of price, size, style and you can begin to get an idea what you like. Once you've found some models that peak your interest, let us know what they are and we'll be able to better suggest options for you.
Click to expand...

Really great of you to put that together. Makes it easy for OP to get us his criteria with his limited knowledge.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Hackenslash said:
Hi Norboo, welcome to Blade Forums.

We'd love to help you, but we need a little more information first. You've had some of the questions posed to you already, but I wanted to try to distill them down into one post.

1. Where do you live? We ask this to determine any knife laws that might apply to you. We really only need Nation or State (unless you're in a wacko nutjob Municipality like NYC or Chicago
I live in Northern Virginia



2. What are your intended uses for a knife? Some things to consider are:
A. Opening packages
C. Breaking down cardboard boxes
F. Emergency and rescue
I. Pocket Bling (no, really...it is a thing)

A, C, F, I


3. How do you picture yourself carrying the knife?
A. Loose in pocket
I would guess


4. What is your budget?
C. Less than $100
D. Less than $200
E. No budget
Around this range


5. You mentioned "small and light". I think most of us would equate that to a sub 3" blade and sub 4 ounce weight. Does this seem to describe what would fit for your definition of "small and light"?
Around 3" sounds about right

6. Do you have any specific conditions that might affect what knife would be right for you? Trashed fingernails? Arthritic joints? Large or small hands? Left handed or right handed?
Right handed and avg. hands

7. Do you have any experience with maintaining a knife edge?
Not much experience


8. Take a look at Blade HQ. http://www.bladehq.com/cat--Manual-Knives--45. They have a great search engine to set limits of price, size, style and you can begin to get an idea what you like. Once you've found some models that peak your interest, let us know what they are and we'll be able to better suggest options for you.
Click to expand...

Thank you.
 
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