Our final pick is a superbly effective, efficient, and high-performing knife inspired by the Land of the Rising Sun. 10 Best Screwdriver Sets (Review) in 2020, 10 Best Tactical Vests To Carry Your Gear (Review) in 2020, This product guide was written by GearHungry Staff, Buck QuickFire Assisted Opening Folding Knife, KATSU Handmade Steel Japanese Folding Knife, I confirm I wish to sign up to the Gear Hungry mailing list, 3Smith & Wesson SS Assisted Folding Knife, 7Buck QuickFire Assisted Opening Folding Knife, 10KATSU Handmade Steel Japanese Folding Knife. In fact, if there is a downside, it’s that the handle is too grippy: During our aggressive cardboard-cutting session, the texture along the edges of the knife became uncomfortable. The blade is perfectly balanced and maintains a fantastically sharp edge while also being resistant to rust even under heavy, consistent use. Knife retailer Blade HQ did a comparison stress test of liner locks, frame locks, and lockback knives, and found that liner locks, on average, could hold 243 pounds of weight before failing, while the frame locks held 277, and the lockbacks held 370. Durable blade made from 4034 Blade Oxide High Carbon Stainless Steel, Quick and easy access with convenient pocket clip, Flipper/finger actuator and M.A.G.I.C assisted opening, Liner lock security ensures protection when carrying, Ambidextrous thumb plate ensures preparation for any situation. We found that, depending on the steel, knives fell into a series of price ranges. Unlike knives with all-metal handles, the Drifter never felt slippery to us. But we found the blade deployment on both knives much harder than the buttery feel of the Drifter. The Case is a very nice knife, but we preferred the Buck due to the more robust body design and the blade steel. Fixed or folding blade? The CRKT Squid Folding Pocket Knife is as stylish as it is easy-to-use and great for anyone looking for a casual knife to carry around on weekends out or just to have around the house in case they need to show off how prepared they are. After that, we simply spent the majority of our testing carrying the knives around and using them daily. Unlike some knives, the pocket clip is adjustable with minimal effort and hassle thanks to pre-drilled holes in the handle should you need to change it. Like many categories, there’s a massive range of what you can … Our list focused mostly on reputable manufacturers such as Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber, Kershaw, and Spyderco. Simply press inward on the metallic stud along the bottom of the knife, and flick your wrist like you were doing a magic trick. Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife Knife. The small handle has a simple arcing design that provides a nice grip and is easy to hold in a variety of ways. And oftentimes people deploying a pocket knife are doing so under duress so they are not in complete command of their faculties and might exhibit tiny errors in technique or judgement that could cause the blade to retract unexpectedly and cause them serious injury. There is no denying that the Spyderco Dragonfly 2 and Delica 4 are excellent knives (the Dragonfly 2 tops reviewer Tony Sculimbrene’s recommendation list). You also have legal considerations. Many knife manufacturers crank out loads of new designs on a seasonal basis, so their catalogs are constantly shifting around. If you’re not allowed to be carrying them, simply don’t—every single state has different regulations. If you have a good handle design four position clips aren't necessary.”, Acceptable blade steel: Blade steel determines a blade’s strength, its corrosion resistance, and how often you’ll be sharpening it. The compact design makes it super easy to carry and store, but still serves you well when called upon in a variety of situations. It’s unfortunate that the Drifter doesn’t provide such customization, but we don’t think that’s an essential feature. You can either store them safely in a knife bag, or you can look like a black market dealer and get a knife roll mat. If you have an application that needs fast and thoughtless deployment, like combat or rescue, assisted and auto knives have their place. The Mini Griptilian is available in a number of configurations. We also thought the pocket clip felt uncomfortable in the hand. We found that the smoothness of the Drifter’s thumb-stud deployment was better than that of any other knife in the under-$40 price range and on a par with that of knives costing three or four times as much. Benchmade, the manufacturer, will “clean, oil, adjust and re-sharpen your Benchmade knife to a factory razor sharp edge” at no cost (you’re responsible for the shipping to Benchmade, but not the return shipping). The curvature or lack thereof of the handle as well as any contouring will also play an integral part in how comfortable or uncomfortable the knife feels in your hand. You can operate liner locks and frame locks with either hand, but those designs are unquestionably easier for right-handed people. These knives come in different sizes, … During testing, I attended a number of family gatherings, where we used the knives for cutting rope for a kid’s swing, shaving off an aggressive splinter on a dock, and opening a few boxes. The blade of the Drifter is made of 8Cr14MoV steel. A: The name is really self-explanatory. The size of the fixed blade you carry will also depend on your circumstances and how the knife is likely to be used. On paper, the Drifter offers nothing unique, but it excels at all of the small elements that make for a successful knife. It’s remarkably lightweight, making it comfortable to carry and hold, which is ideal for situations that require more heavy duty application like cutting kindling. It’s highly in demand, so if you feel you need this knife in your life, we’d advise to act fast, and you’ll be pleased to discover it’s not too expensive, despite how it may look. But with a total length of 5¾ inches and a cutting edge of barely over 2 inches, the Buck 55 is not a menacing knife. Some of the other nice knives we found in this price range, such as the Zancudo (our runner-up), the Kershaw Chill, and the Ontario RAT II, all have multi-position pocket clips that either cater more easily to left-handed users or at least offer the right-handed tip-up position. The Buck Knives Vantage is about the size of the Drifter but is a hard-to-use flipper. It’s easy to maintain and delivers excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance, which is great news for those planning on taking it on camping and outdoor trips. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. It’s a small touch, but noticeable when you’re using the knife. Legality Concerning Your Knife/Knives – This is something you can apply to your storage solutions knowledge. Most pocket knives, like our other recommendations, have flat sides, but the Mini Griptilian’s are slightly rounded to fit the hand. Both models have back locks, though, and as nice as they are, we prefer the liner locks and frame locks of our recommended knives, which are easier to use one-handed especially for someone who might be unfamiliar with knives. This gives you a fantastic all-purpose knife for an array of demands. In addition, we looked at two traditional folders with lockbacks; these models, from Buck Knives and from Case, also have a two-handed open, relying on the fingernail nick. In the end, even the so-so steels will be fine for day-to-day use. While a large person will require a more robust handle. The two knives are very similar, with nearly identical handle lengths (the blade of the Case is about ¼ inch longer). So it’s not totally perfect, but at less than $40 it’s close enough to serve you well on the job or as a handy tool when taking trips into the wilderness by still offering functionality and reliability when called upon.