What Features Do You Require In A Pocket Knife

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I li
ke a pocket clip to keep it oriented the same way in my pocket and not mixed in with my change.
I like a lockblade. I've never had a problem with a liner lock.
It must be one hand open and close.
I bought recently bought these swisstech utility knives to try.
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I like 'em!
 
My Daily Urban Carry Knives are usually a slim 3-1/2" assisted opener with a liner lock and a pocket clip - and a slim 2" executive-style pocket knife with a liner lock for fine work.
For rural situations I'll usually add a 4-1/2" to 6" fixed-blade sheath knife.
 
JShirley said:
We seem to agree a lot. I have no problem with 440C steel, though (dunno how you feel about it). I have cut through the necks of 2 bottles accidentally with my 440C Ganzo.

I will use, but do not love, the compression lock.

John
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We do.

I'm not what I think most would call a hard user of knives so my perspective should be kept in mind. But in my experience (30 years or so) 440C is a pretty decent steel that takes on a nice edge. I mean you can make it dang sharp. But I have also experienced the edge retention being somewhat lack luster. I worked in the woods for 12 years and a knife gets a lot of use in my field, and I almost always carried 440C. I mean cutting rope, boxes, prying open stuck valves on equipment, digging forest insects out of tree bark, and all sorts of other things I'm failing to remember. I've put that steel through it's paces. It works, and even an unskilled sharpening shmuk like me can get it cutting again with minimal effort.

I actually think it's a great inexpenssive user steel that someone just needs to keep in good cutting condition to make use of.

When I actually invest in a sharpening system, and learn to use it, I'll likely start with my 440C knives to bring some life back to them.
 
I like a stockman knife . I like a sheepfoots blade and a clip point blade . I mainly use mine for opening packages , cutting rope and peeling apples .
 
I figured the best way to figure out what I liked by buying lots of knives and figuring it out. I don’t work in a physically demanding job. But one where a knife is needed. I like knives that are light, clip easy to the pocket. Smooth so as to not injure my hand when I reach into my pocket. Combo tools for me are never in the picture. Seems like a compromise to me.

I need sharp, easy to sharpen and safe. Too old for accidents from a bad design. Opening with one hand is good, but not required. Lock type not as important as the function of the lock.
 
1. Made in USA
2. Not made in China
3. EU is OK
4. Taiwan is OK
3. A design I admire and like. Not ever a liner lock.
4. No scale inserts.
5. Not a tanto
6. Not a chopper
7. No G 10
8. None of that decorative damascus no matter what
9. Good steel, be it carbon or rust resistant
10. Fit and finish commensurate with price.
 
I agree with most of those. I have some times bought PRC-made, as long as I believed the quality was appropriate.

I'm not even sure how many Ganzo and Kershaw knives I've given away, mostly to fellow service members who had no knife, or a knife I believed was unsafe for hard conditions.

I've given away a few Spydercos, as well, but it's a lot harder to afford giving away many of those!

John
 
I generally have two knives on me all the time. One is a general purpose, smaller folder. These days that is generally a Benchmade Bugout.

The other is a more substantial knife for bigger chores / last ditch self defense. Sometimes that’s a fixed blade ESEE 3 and sometimes it’s a Benchmade Volli. Occasionally it is a Battle Horse Large Work Horse.

In a folder, a pocket clip is a must. A locking mechanism is a must. I prefer super steels. Assisted opening is a plus, but not a necessity. And, it has to be razor sharp. That’s all I require.
 
I carry a custom buck knife with a SV30 blade on my belt appendix style. It is easy to reach with either hand and as a lefty it works great carrying this way as my revolver is on my left side. Sometimes I carry two depending on what I'm doing a Swiss army knife , and for Sunday wear at church I use a case knife, the peanut.
IMG_2039.jpeg IMG_1991.jpeg
 
One of the critical points for me is the availability of a matching trainer.

Beyond that, I've come to depend on the "wave" feature for opening, which of course means a pocket clip as well.

And some sort of reliable lock - as long as it works, I don't much care about the details.
 
ms6852
Sometimes I carry two depending on what I'm doing a Swiss army knife , and for Sunday wear at church I use a case knife, the peanut.
Click to expand...

I could be wrong but isn't the Case knife that you have pictured is a Cheetah and not a Peanut? I only ask because I had a Cheetah many years ago and I thought it had a safety swing guard, (just like the one you have), which moved into position as the blade was opened. It was a great knife but somewhere along the way I lost it. One is currently on my short list.
 
Musts for me is made in USA, steel that will sharpen on an Arkansas whetstone. I tend to like buck knives for clipper and hunting knives, and case for slip joints.

I prefer tip down carry for pocket clips on the right side, and tip up for clips on the left side. The buck 345 with the flipper nub removed is what I like for a clipper. I rarely carry this type of knife.

Case or schrade USA for a stockman.

Buck 192 or case ridgeback or Buffalo hunter for field knives. Buck 110 is a compromise when a belt knife is too large.

At this moment I have a case jumbo stockman and leatherman original in front pockets, and a buck 110 on my belt.
 
red rick
I like a stockman knife . I like a sheepfoots blade and a clip point blade .
Click to expand...

Me too! I got hooked on them while working my first job out of high school. I was working as...what else...a stockman in a warehouse and a three bladed knife was great for the sheer utility of cutting things up like cardboard, rope, plastic wrap, nylon straps, etc.
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Night Rider said:
What Features Do You Require In A Pocket Knife
Click to expand...
For "tool" knife working around the house, a replaceable blade.

For "carry" knife, folder for smaller size in pocket and assisted opening for quick one handed operation. Very happy with S&W Velocite. A little nudge with index finger on the blade nub and it opens with a positive "Click". Solid and affordable knife at $19 - https://www.amazon.com/Velocite-Assisted-Folding-Tactical-Survival/dp/B07Z8L4N9T

index.php
 
I guess one of the main things for me is feel. It has to feel good in hand for long cutting tasks. No fatigue. The buck 192 fits me good. Schrade 140 series, like the 143 also fit well and are comfortable.
 
My taste in knives has simplified greatly over the last few years.

Simply put, I like a Case Trapper with CV blades. I like Amber bone handles and/or the yellow handles.

Classic style, carbon steel, fills the hand, and made in the US
 
Cheap is the most important factor. I am not going to have a daily carry knife that costs over $100 to replace. If I lose it or break it, I don't want to be without a knife for awhile. Country of origin doesn't matter much to me. I have Benchmade knives that were made in China that work fine. For a harder use knife, my standards of cost can drastically change but not always.

Like most so far, I prefer not to have a liner lock. However, it is getting harder and harder to find a quality knife that uses back or proprietary locks while keeping them inexpensive.

I don't like foolish names on my knives. I don't care what they call their knife on the package but it doesn't need to be stamped on it. I passed on a S&W shelf knife tonight because it said "ExtremeOps" on the blade. I just want something to sit in my pocket for when I need it doing menial tasks.
 
herrwalther said:
Cheap is the most important factor. I am not going to have a daily carry knife that costs over $100 to replace. If I lose it or break it, I don't want to be without a knife for awhile. Country of origin doesn't matter much to me. I have Benchmade knives that were made in China that work fine. For a harder use knife, my standards of cost can drastically change but not always.

Like most so far, I prefer not to have a liner lock. However, it is getting harder and harder to find a quality knife that uses back or proprietary locks while keeping them inexpensive.

I don't like foolish names on my knives. I don't care what they call their knife on the package but it doesn't need to be stamped on it. I passed on a S&W shelf knife tonight because it said "ExtremeOps" on the blade. I just want something to sit in my pocket for when I need it doing menial tasks.
Click to expand...

Just go on Ebay and search for lockback pocket knives. They have 15,000 listings at the moment. You'll find something that suits you.
 
20220304-230657.jpg

Of the knives that I own these two are the ones I carry most.

They're both Bucks. The one on top is a 110 LTE and the one on the bottom is a Model 422 Bucklite.

The LTE cost $30 and the Bucklite originally sold for around $15 in 1990.

They're not expensive. They're not tactical. They aren't really what I would call Bushcraft knives but I think they are good, general service field knives. In fact the Bucklite is a replacement for an identical knife that was my general field knife in the Army.

The Kwik Studs makes them one handed, ambidextrous knives and they're made in the USA.
 
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