Knife Buying Guide

There are several types of knives to choose from. Some of the most popular knives are pocket knives, multi-tool knives and hunting knives. There are also specialty knives, lockback knives and collector sets.

Before deciding on a knife, consider your options:

• Fixed-blade knives: These knives have a lot of strength because of their solid, one-piece design, but they can cause some damage if not stored properly. You will need a sheath for these knives.
• Folding knives: The most common are pocket knives and lockback knives. They are more convenient and are a smaller size when folded.
• Tactical and military knives: These knives can be fixed blade or folded and are designed for survival in a variety of conditions.
• Multi-tool knives: Multi-tool knives are almost always folding knives. A popular example is the Swiss Army knife. They are packed with tools for every situation.

After you have thought about the options you have with knives, it is time to ask yourself what you need and expect from your knife. Here are a few questions to ask:

How will I be using this knife? Will the knife be used in the field or as a collector knife? Will this be a survival or hunting knife? Is weight an issue? Will the knife be around corrosives or salt water? Will I need to sharpen the knife in the field?

If you are taking a day hike to the local waterfall, a folding knife with or without tools should be enough. If you plan to hike the backcountry for a few days living off of nothing but the land and what you've packed in, you'll want a heavy-duty knife and possibly a heavy-duty multi-tool knife as well.

Fixed-blade knives

Fixed-blade knives include your hunting knives and most military and tactical knives.

Hunting knives

These knives include boning knives, flexible fillet knives for fishing, skinning knives, slicing knives, cleavers and caping knives. For hunters, having the appropriate knife will depend on the game you're hunting.

Tactical knives

Tactical knives can be fixed or folding knives. Most tactical knives, if a folding knife, will have a locking feature. Tactical knives, including Bowie knives and variations, are included in many survival kits, including the Air Force survival kit. Bowie knives were given by the US Army to helicopter crews during the Vietnam War and are still standard issue today. Note that tactical knives and fighting/combat knives are not the same thing. Tactical knives are designed for more uses than a bayonet or fighting knife; they can be used for emergency egress from downed aircraft and used for Survival-Escape-Resistance-Evasion (S.E.R.E.) tasks. Tactical knives are useful for Search and Rescue personnel; tactical knives are intended to be used, and made, with maximum versatility in mind.

Bowie knives are heavy work-horse knives. For hunting, a Bowie knife will be the best when you begin field dressing your game. These knives are powerful, and the name Bowie Knife can refer to any large sheath knife with a clip point. Avoid hollow handled survival knives. They tend to collapse or break where the handle and blade meet when a lot of torque is applied. Always look for full-tang construction when purchasing a fixed-blade tactical knife. Full-tang construction means that the knife blade extends all of the way down into the handle of the knife. This will increase strength and decrease the chances of your knife breaking.

Important features in a tactical knife are dependant on its intended use. Don't purchase a heavy knife when a lightweight folding knife will do. Some tactical knives may include features you will never use. One feature you may want to consider is a partially serrated blade. The serrated edge will make cutting rope and other tough materials easier while the rest of the blade can be used for other tasks, such as preparing food while camping or on a long trek.

Folding knives

Folding knives are designed to be conveniently stored in your pocket or attached to your belt. They shouldn't be too bulky, since that would negate their convenience. If you purchase a pocket knife, or other folding knife, that doesn't fit into your pocket, make sure the knife has a belt clip.

Pocket knives

Pocket knives are the most widely used outdoor gear. Remember that pocket knives, like the Swiss Army knife, are intended to fit inside of your pocket.

It is a smart idea to always have a pocket knife around. Even women should keep a small pocket knife in their purses in case of emergencies. You never know when you'll need to open a tough package; when your kids are in the back seat of your car you don't want to struggle trying to open that box of snacks or the extra batteries for their entertainment systems.

Multi-tool knives

Multi-tool knives come with a variety of tools to choose from. Swiss Army was the first in multi-tool folding knives, but since then there have been many different brands making many different variations; for example, Leatherman multi-tool knives are a heavy duty variation of the original Swiss Army knives.

When you are online shopping for a multi-tool knife, consider the size and extras packed into the knife. Men and women will want a multi-tool knife with the basics: screwdriver, scissors, large and small blades, can opener, bottle opener, tweezers and corkscrew. Men may decide to pick up a multi-tool knife that has a few extras that aren't included with the basics: large and small screw drivers, larger knives, pliers and needle nose pliers, wire cutters, saw blade and maybe even a flashlight, calculator, stapler, nail clippers or secret compartment! There are many tools in each multi-tool knife so you will need to decide which ones will be the most useful.

Women, there are also many multi-tool knives made specifically with the tools women will find the most useful: pocket knife, flashlight, needle and thread, safety pin, tweezers, mirror, pen, scissors, screwdriver, ruler, nail file and pen. A few will even feature a pill box and perfume bottle.

Remember that the knives in each multi-tool knife will still need to be good quality; don't settle for any cheap knives.

Tactical folding knives

Folding knives that lock open are called lockback knives. These tactical knives are designed to be opened and closed one-handed. Lockback knives, which lock the blade open, keep the blade from closing on your fingers while the knife is in use. Folding knives often have clips for carrying the tactical knife on your belt; however, you still want to have a folding knife that can fit in your pocket.

Blades

Most blades are made of stainless steel; this avoids rust and provides the temper needed to complete the job that the knife was designed to do. High carbon steel is also used because it makes sharpening the knife blade easier; however, high carbon steel blades require more care. For added hardness a titanium nitride is frequently coated on the steel. This coating also makes sharpening easier.

Blade ratings

Fixed-blade knives are generally stronger the farther the blade extends into the handle. Many knife manufacturers list a rating on their steel; this is known as the Rockwell C scale. A low C-scale rating means that the blade could be too soft and will lose its edge quickly. A high C-scale rating might mean that the steel is too hard and as a result, the blade cannot withstand pressure, impact or torque. The best for most blades is a C-scale rating in the mid- to upper 50s.

Serrated blades

Serrated blades on your knives will provide more cutting power and are especially useful for cutting rope, cords and other materials. You can find knives that are fully or partially serrated. With a partially serrated knife blade you have the option of two cutting edges on one blade. Both fixed and folding knives can have partially serrated blades.

Handles

There are several styles and materials for knife handles. The handle will determine the comfort level of a hunting knife, which may be in use for longer periods of time, or the overall strength of a Bowie knife.

• Wood: This is the traditional material for knife handles. Wood provides grip and aesthetics. Remember that wet wood can split, weakening the knife's strength.
• Rubber: Textured rubber handles also give a better grip while increasing comfort and absorbing shock.
• Molded plastic: Folding knives have molded textured plastic. This increases grip and durability.
• Micarta: Micarta is a popular handle material that is water resistant and when wet, increases the grip. It is an extremely tough material.
• Leather: Many knives may still have leather handles. Leather handles are made by stacking leather washers. Sometimes the leather is wrapped around another handle material.
• Stainless steel: Stainless steel handles, although durable and more sanitary, tend to become slippery. You will see stainless steel handles with textures: bumps, ridges or indentations. You won't often find stainless steel handles on hunting knives, unless it is a skeleton handle.
• Skeleton: A skeleton handle is the tang of the knife. Some tactical knives have this type of handle. Sections of the tang are removed to reduce weight. Skeletal tangs are wrapped with parachute cord or another wrapping material, such as leather, to increase their grip. Folding knives can also have skeleton handles. Instead of sections of the tang, sections of the folding handle are removed, allowing you to see the blade in its folded position.

Collectible knives

With all of the specifications for how to buy a knife, here is one type that doesn't absolutely have to follow the rules. Collectible knives aren't meant to be used in any practical sense. The decorative dagger and collectible sword are never intended to be wielded. Often, collectible knives are meant to hang on a wall or sit in a display case, so, although they are made just like other knives, they are usually more for decoration.

There are several collector knives, considered specialty knives, which are as tough as other knives. Deciding on which collector knife to buy will depend on what will go with your collection best, and not on the strength of construction of the tang and bolster.

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