For anyone shopping for a pocket knife, whether it’s the very first one or the fiftieth in a collection, these are some of the things to look for in a quality model. One size does not fit all, and it’s important to keep that in mind when looking for a new knife, but if you can find quality in each of these features, you have a good little tool.
The most important thing you should know is why you’re shopping for a pocket knife in the first place. Are you a hunter, a backpacker, a craftsman or a camper? Do you need a knife for EDC? Square that away first, and then ascertain the following qualities.
Good Steel - Many a beautiful knife is made from what is effectively garbage steel with a poor heat treatment or none at all. Unless it’s for a collection, stay away from steels like 440. Buck’s 420HC is admirable, but that’s another budget steel. Whether you want a stainless steel blade or a carbon steel blade, make sure it is a good alloy and one that has been treated properly.
Tough Scales - Tough scales are another important feature to look for in any knife. They don’t need to be micarta or G10, but these are some of the toughest synthetics out there. Aluminum is pretty tough, too.
A Strong Lock - If you want a locking blade, keep the lock mechanism in mind. Liner locks and frame locks are convenient, but they are not as strong as lockbacks or Axis locks. Folding knives that lock need strong locks to keep the blade open, so keep that in mind.
Ease of Opening - A simple folding pocket knife won’t have a thumb stud or an assisted opening mechanism, but that’s something else to keep in mind, especially if you need to open it with one hand.
Ease of Carry - A knife for everyday carry is only as good as the means of carrying it. Do you want to drop it in your pocket, carry it on your belt or wear it via a pocket clip?
Good Edge Geometry and Blade Profile - Poor edge geometry can take hours of work before a stone to fix, and blade profile matters too, along with blade length. Do you want a drop point blade to stand up to camp work or a clip point blade for dressing and carving? Suit yourself with the right style of blade by being prepared.
After you’ve assured yourself that the model in question meets some of these metrics, then you can get onto finding the actual model that you like. Some people will shop only on the basis of brand, but if you can find these traits, you can set the brand aside.
Nonetheless, you can find a great assortment of brands at White Mountain Knives, in addition to a number of high quality pocket knives with the features we mentioned here, and more. Their prices, like their collection, are great, and they offer free shipping in North America, too. Visit their website today, at WhiteMountainKnives.com.
