A pocket knife is a great addition to anyone’s Everyday Carry. Small in size and handy to use, a folding pocket knife is a great way to have an all-in-one tool for your various needs.

But here’s the thing, what knife you carry will depend on your daily needs and activities. Your ideal carry knife is likely completely different from anyone else.

Five Things to Consider When Purchasing a Pocket Knife

Purpose of the knife

Consider whether you need a fixed blade knife or a folding knife. Is it for a one-off camping trip? Or do you need one for daily use? A fixed blade knife will generally require a holster where a folding knife can be carried in your pocket. 

Blade number and types 

Choosing the number and type of blades you need is important when deciding on a knife. If you intend to use your pocket knife for de-skinning or carving up a hunt, then you would need a knife that has dedicated blades for hunting and carving. Such knives usually have a particular type of edge, which will help you with a specific task. For example, a plain edge for cutting/hacking, a serrated edge for carving/sawing, and a combined edge for survival/adventure activities.

If you plan on using your pocket knife specifically for small repairs, opening cans, cutting wires, then a Swiss Army Knife with multiple-use blades will work. This type of knife will come with other tools in addition to your knife.

The thing is, if you need a specialized blade for multi-purposes, it’s best to buy separate pocket knives for each activity. These blades will be stronger and last longer too. But if you’re going to use these knives for simple tasks that don’t wear the blade much, then thinner blades that support multi-purpose pocket knife use can be a great choice.

Depending on what you’re going to do with your pocket knife, you have various types of blades you can choose from:

• Clip point
• Drop point
• Straight back
• Needle point
• Spear point
• Tanto point
• Sheepsfoot
• Trailing point
• Pen blade
• Wharncliffe
• Spey point
• Hawkbill
• Modified blades

Pocket Knife Material and Handle 

Pocket knives come in a combination of material. For example, a high-carbon stainless steel blade on a wooden or top-quality plastic handle, or alloy blades with bone handles. Based on your needs, you can find a configuration of pocket knives that suit your diverse needs and preferences.

When considering the pocket knife handle, you should also consider the design. Do you want a loop-like construction into which you can hook your thumb? Or do you prefer a groove that can help improve your palm grip when holding the knife? You should also consider how comfortable the handle grip will be for your hand.

This is where the size of the overall knife comes in. There’s everything from 2-inches to 7.5 inches. Smaller pocket knives are easier to carry, larger pocket knives are better for self-defence and hunting. However, a large knife may not be great if your hands are small or you have a physical disability that makes it challenging to hold big knives. In this case, a medium-sized knife between 3 to 5 inches can be a good choice. 

Open and lock mechanism

This is a crucial point to consider when purchasing folding pocket knives and camping knives. Not every country allows all types of pocket knives in certain situations. For example, in some places, it’s perfectly legal to carry an automatic knife. But in other places, it's not. 

Similarly, opening and locking mechanisms also affect the usability and safety offered by the pocket knife. Having a knife that opens quickly and immediately is essential when you’re using it for hunting, tactical operations, or protection. Similarly, some locking mechanisms are easy to use in a single hand, while others require both hands to lock the knife and can be cumbersome.

Manual opening blades are legal almost everywhere. But automatic/switchblade knives are easier to use. When it comes to locking, you have various options, such as liner locks, slipjoint, lock back, midlocks, frame locks, ring locks and lever locks.

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