
The result is generally a strong blade with good edge retention and decent corrosion resistance (though not as good as stainless). There’s also tool steel, which can contain titanium, molybdenum, vanadium, or other elements.
CUSTOM CRKT MINIMALIST SERIES
Choose stainless, like AUS-8, VG-10, or 8Cr13MoV, and its cousins in the 9Cr and 7Cr series if you will mostly be using your knife on the water, to process game, or to prepare dinner while camping. Stainless blades are often cheaper than their carbon counterparts, too. Stainless steel isn’t as hardy as carbon, but with the addition of chromium, the blade is less susceptible to corrosion. Types of carbon steel include 420HC, XC90, and 1095. Carbon steel is easy to sharpen, holds an edge well, and is durable, but the blade takes more care because the metal is prone to corrosion. The three most common categories for pocket knives are carbon, stainless, and tool steel. More for Your Outdoor Adventures: Best Hiking Shoes Plus, you can use the back of the blade for things like fire sparking rods without it closing or bending on you. It won’t close on your fingers during use, which makes it safer, and the stiffness of a locking blade lets you manipulate it at a variety of angles, like while whittling wood or opening a particularly tricky package. Most handles range from 3.5- to 5-inches. Most blades in this category measure from 2 to 3.5 inches long and have a drop-point shape. It should be light enough to carry comfortably but with a blade and handle that are sized to your liking. When considering knives for everyday carry (EDC), look for a folding option that easily fits on your belt or in your pocket when closed. What to Look for in a Pocket Knife Folder I now have different knives for different days and activities and have tested most of the top models from the top brands over the past few years. My preferences for a good pocket knife have evolved considerably over those 30 years, and my collection of pocket knives has grown as well.

I never showed up to her house without one after that and I’ve probably carried a pocket knife for 95 percent of the days of my adult life. The Expert: My grandmother once chided me (then knife-less) that a man with a pocket knife was worth an extra dollar an hour on their dairy farm. Best Spring-Assisted Knife: Kershaw Link.Best Small Pocket Knife: Benchmade 533 Mini Bugout.Best Mid-Size: Case XX Marilla Pocket Knife.A good pocket knife obviously fits comfortably in your pocket, so I’ve focused here on folding knives, but every person has different priorities for what their knife should do, how it should feel in the hand, and what it should look like, so I’ve highlighted my favorites in a range of common categories of pocket knife. If you work with your hands, a pocket knife can save you time going to get a specialized tool when a pocket knife might work nearly as well. The utility of a pocket knife is obvious- cutting food, rope, packaging, and who knows what else, but they’re also handy for opening boxes, scraping off stickers, pruning shrubs, digging in the dirt, cleaning fish, and whatever else might require an all-purpose tool. Sleeping and flying are probably the only times I’m not carrying. I feel naked if I get dressed for the day without one. This knife handle material is absolutely stunning in its appearance and its ability to reflect light and gives a whole new depth to the knife making art.I don’t know how anyone gets through life without a pocket knife. *C-TEK Resin infused aluminum honeycomb handle material. There are three separate versions in this run with two handle material: C-TEK* & Custom Acrylics GITD, but of course each will vary slightly as these are all hand built customs. Alan has been building the minimalist line of knives for over 10 years and both the custom & production are highly sought after. It's equally at home in the camp kitchen or the garage. This is our Exclusive Alan Folts Minimalist - Cleaver Fixed BladeĪlan Folts Custom Minimalist Cleaver is a compact fixed blade neck knife with a throwback cleaver blade that sparks campfire conversations.
