For everyday use in a variety of situations, you’re unlikely to find anything better that will perform as reliably as this. And while it retains a decidedly tactical bent in both design and materials with its premium S35VN blade, it's subtle enough to not draw unwanted attention. The Cryo is a confused knife. "I love the way this knife looks and operates. Because they are just so dang useful. The Contego isn't cheap but if you don't mind parting with the coin, you'll be hard pressed to find a better knife. Tough is what you need in a tactical knife. It’s short but heavy and wide. The Kershaw Leek sports a blade made from Sandvik 14C28N knife steel. I eventually switched to the REI 531 because it was smaller and less intimidating. The blade comes to an aggressive point that is ideal for stabbing strikes. The carbon steel was insanely easy to sharpen, less than 10 swipes had me back to a razor’s edge. The highly responsive flipper also sports a plunge safety lock. I have had this thing for years and the blade is in great condition. It has a very sturdy construction that fits comfortably in my hand. The No 8 features an extremely thin, razor-sharp 3.35“ high carbon steel blade that’ll cut through just about anything especially when you lock the blade in place using the iconic Opinel Virobloc safety ring. It also is the perfect size - you won’t intimidate people when you pull it out, but it’s still big enough for most tasks. Copyright © 2020 Pew Pew Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Put this knife to work and will not let you down. A solid ass EDC folder with super smooth deployment action that has met my day to day needs without any real gripes – especially for the price point! I would carry this knife or the prodigy tanto (Gerber) if I needed something strong. Thanks to these inserts, the knife firmly and confidently lies in the hand in any weather. The meanest thing any of my EDC knives slices and dices is clamshell packaging. Rick Hinderer’s XM-18 is an iconic full-size tactical knife design, and the 3.5“ harpoon "spanto" variant is perhaps the best. Kizer Cutlery Ki5414A1 V3 Magnum Vigor Flipper 3.89" S35VN Stonewashed Tanto Blade, OD Green G10 Handles The blade design allows for a long cutting edge that is efficient for the blade’s length. We’ll detail each of our picks’ steel and briefly talk pros and cons of that steel. I received Eric’s well used EDC and could already see it took some major abuse before I got it. If you want a knife with features, the Mule won’t have much. Hands down best EDC in my book has been in my pocket since 1993, Remington R-1 upland pocket knife. Spyderco modernized their time-tested Native design by giving it premium S30V steel and textured G10 handles. The best under $50 dollars, and the best under $100 dollars. That cannot be ignored. best tactical knives. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. The Hunter Pro Alox features a large blade and a durable aluminum handle that’s far more versatile than what you find in a standard keychain-sized Swiss Army Knife. Ka-Bar Mule Folder Knife with Straight Edge Blade. The thumb hole release is ambidextrous, and people either love it or hate it. For normal EDC tasks, it’s perfect. Gerber Profile Fixed Blade Knife, Drop Point [22-41795] Or if you want to complete your EDC loadout…our Best EDC Flashlights will have you mastering the night. KATSU Handmade D2 Steel Blade G10 Handle Bamboo Style Japanese Razor Pocket Folding Knife with Pocket Clip "drinking one type of beer" If your are inexperienced go to a good knife shop and talk to the person behind the counter most likely they can give you advice and answer questions you did not even think of to begin with. The canvas micarta handles offers resistance against the elements, which is useful if you take the Mini Scandi outdoors. CRKT M16-03S KATSU Handmade D2 Steel Blade G10 Handle Bamboo Style Japanese Razor Pocket Folding Knife with Pocket Clip Uncle Henry Schrade Special Edition Bruin Schrade Old Timer 96OT Bearhead 2-Blade Trapper Knife Gerber Gator 650 Lockblade Gerber Profile Fixed Blade Knife, Drop Point [22-41795] Kershaw 1660OL Ken Onion Leek Olive Drab Kizer Cutlery Ki5414A1 V3 … At this point in time I am carrying a 3.5 inch Gerber. The Tenacious is one of the more compact Spydercos, but it doesn’t hold anything back. Like every Spyderco, it has a stylish appearance. This knife is great for prying, chopping, batoning and stabbing. Right off the bat — the Highbrow’s metallic sage finish makes this a sweet looking knife. There are plenty of knives with blades over 3" with designs that are friendly for EDC. Most junk won’t have an associated brand name. Check out our top 10 best folding knife reviews so that you have an idea on what folding knife to buy if you are looking for one. This Kershaw x Emerson collaboration provides the public with signature Emerson tactical design and that unique wave-shaped opening at an accessible price point. Terms of Service apply. It’s slow to open, the blade will rust easily if you don’t pay attention, and there is nowhere for me to rest my thumb during rough cuts. A more refined version of the Zing that’s sleeker, lighter, and more quality feeling. The blade is extremely sharp and never seemed to lose that sharp edge. Do you prefer more compact blades, or knives on the larger side? The Yojimbo 2 was designed by Michael Janich to be the perfect tactical combat knife. Privacy Policy and The Opinel isn’t a high tech tactical knife, just a simple folding blade pocket knife. Has a button slide on the other side that allows you to unlock the 3.75 inch blade for flip out extension where it automatically locks. Our favorite guns and gear that we've tested and fully recommend. Folders will fail, wear out and break. The screws they use aren’t flush fitting and catch and tear at the outside of my pockets. Knife is very sharp with a mirror polish on the edge. But it’s been a venerable everyday carry knife for generations now, and for good reason. The black rubberized grip is fantastic. This lets you put its 3.5“ spear-point hollow-grind blade right to work with confidence. Scales are very grippy. One of the biggest problems I have is the pocket clip. That being said I did sharpen it just to hone the blade a bit. CRKT M16-03S It’s strong, holds an edge for a good amount of time, and is corrosion resistant. In colder weather, when you've got bigger coat pockets and you're wearing gloves, a bigger blade is both easier to carry and to use with control and confidence.