Top 6 Best Pocket Knives On The Market (2021)

Benchmade 710Below are the top selling 3″- 4″ blade EDC (Every Day Carry) best pocket knives currently available from the top 2 production knife companies. These knives are on top for a reason. They are proven designs from the industries leaders.

The knives listed here are all manual folders made from very good blade steel. This list does not contain automatic knives, assisted opening knives or flippers. Just the top selling locking folding knives available today. The choice as to “what’s best for you” should be looked at carefully. Size, weight, lock design, pocket clip, thickness, width as well as blade shape and blade steel. Other considerations are pocket clip location. Tip up or Tip down carry? Think long and hard about this. Most people have a strong preference as to tip up or tip down. With the majority preferring tip up for ease of opening one handed. V.S Tip down for the extra level of safety in the pocket. Is the knife Right hand / Left hand friendly? Is the pocket clip drilled and tapped on both side making it reversible? Is it drilled 4 way? Giving left hand, right hand, tip up or tip down options. It is important to realize that each one of these listed below are someone’s perfect folder. Better than anything else out there / to them….Much of it is based on design. The common link these knives share are they are“most peoples” favorites. I have mine, and you will have yours.

As this is not an industry sponsored page, I am going to mention my favorite top 2 production pocket knife companies.

Benchmade and Spyderco. I like Benchmade’s Axis lock’s and Spyderco’s ergonomic designs and their innovative use of new materials. My personal favorites in this area are the Benchmade models 940 and 710 & the Spyderco Para Military 2, and Spyderco Manix 2. But you really cant go wrong with any of the knives listed below. Pocket knives are personal preference. And I like anyone else, have my favorites.

Pocket Knife Comparison Table

Knife	Weight	Blade Length	Blade Material	Lock Mechanism	Overall Length
Benchmade 940	2.90oz.	3.40"	S30V & S90V Premium Stainless Steel	AXIS	7.87″
Benchmade 710	4.50oz.	3.90"	D2 Tool Steel	AXIS	8.80″
Benchmade Griptilian	3.82oz.	3.45″	154CM Stainless Steel	AXIS	8.07″
Spyderco Para2	3.9 oz.	3.438”	G-10	unique Compression Lock	8.281”
Spyderco Manix 2	5 oz.	3.375”	G-10	CBL (Caged Ball Lock)	8”
Spyderco Military	4.2 oz	4″	G-10	liner lock	9.5″

Benchmade 940

The Benchmade 940 strong points are the Axis lock, ease of carry due to its light weight and ergonomics. This is a knife you can easily forget you have in your pocket, but fully capable for most any tasks you will run into.The 940 has its pocket clip positioned for tip up carry only. (Due to its Axis lock)But its clip is reversible for Right or left hand carry. This is a great carry knife, with its aluminum scales it tips the sales at a mere 2.9 oz. Something to consider.

Blade Length: 3.40″
Blade Thickness: 0.115″
Handle Thickness: 0.410″
Blade Material: S30V & S90V Premium Stainless Steel
Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC (S30V) & 59-61HRC (S90V)
Blade Style: Modified Reverse Tanto w/ Ambidextrous Thumb-Studs
Weight: 2.90oz.
Pocket Clip: Black, Reversible, Tip-Up
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Overall Length: 7.87″
Closed Length: 4.47″
Class: Blue
Origin: Made in the USA

Benchmade 940-1

Carbon Fiber and S90V blade steel. 2.4 oz. (My personal EDC)

Features:

AXIS locking mechanism
Reverse tanto blade; ambidextrous dual thumb-stud opener
CPM-S90V super steel blade (59-61HRC)
Carbon fiber handle scales with stainless steel liners and anodized aluminum barrel spacers
Reversible tip-up pocket clip

Specifications

Blade Length: 3.40″
Blade Thickness: 0.115″
Handle Thickness: 0.44″
Open: 7.87″
Closed: 4.47″
Weight: 2.44 oz.
Country of origin: USA

Benchmade 710

The Benchmade 710 was introduced in 1999. It was the 1st knife to feature the now famous Axis lock in a design from McHenry & Williams This is a fairly larger knife, but is very slim and carries well. This is and has been Benchmade’s flagship model. Note, this knife does have a slight re-curve design on its cutting edge as can be seen in the photo. This re-curve aids in most cutting tasks, but in some areas such as using this knife on a cutting board gives it a slight disadvantage. That being said, the 710 has been one of Benchmade’s top selling folders for the past 15 years. And its still going strong. The 710 has its pocket clip positioned for tip up carry only. But its clip is reversible for Right or left hand carry. The 710 is Benchmade’s Classic folder.

Blade Length: 3.90″
Blade Thickness: 0.115″
Handle Thickness: 0.480″
Blade Material: D2 Tool Steel
Blade Hardness: 60-62HRC
Blade Style: Modified Clip-Point w/ Ambidextrous Dual Thumb Studs
Weight: 4.50oz.
Pocket Clip: Black, Reversible, Tip-Up
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Overall Length: 8.80″
Closed Length: 4.90″
Class: Blue
Origin: Made in the USA

Benchmade Griptilian

The Benchmade 551 Griptilian is probably Benchmade’s best selling model today.

It is a very functional knife made from quality materials at a great price.

Its extremely light weight for its size due to its textured glass fill Noryl GTX valox handles.

These handles feature nested stainless steel liners for added strength.

With a base blade steel of 154CM and the famous Axis lock, this is a hard to beat combination in a light weight package. Some do not care for the light weight feeling the handles provide, but the material is very tough with a texture that offers an excellent wet or dry grip. That also makes this knife very easy to carry. Tip down carry, left or right handed. Cant go wrong with a Benchmade Grip.

This knife also comes in several colors and blade configurations. The knife listed here is the classic Griptilian, the 551.

Blade Length: 3.45″

Blade Thickness: 0.115″

Handle Thickness: 0.640″

Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel

Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC

Blade Style: Modified Drop-Point w/ Ambidextrous Thumb Studs

Weight: 3.82oz.

Pocket Clip: Black, Reversible, Tip-Up

Lock Mechanism: AXIS

Overall Length: 8.07″

Closed Length: 4.62″

Class: Blue

Origin: Made in the USA

Spyderco Paramilitary 2

The Para2 as its called by its fans is a knife that has evolved through time.

Running changes have been made through the years and those changes have produced what many feel is the perfect folder for every day carry. Its unique Compression Lock on the spine of the knife are just one of its many great features. Its CPM-S30V full flat ground blade makes it a great slicer. Its enlarged opening hole in the blade makes opening this knife almost effortless. Its G-10 scales offer excellent grip and its handle design offers perfect purchase in several positions. The finger choil at the front of the blade for your index finger makes chocking up for doing fine work a pleasure. The Para2 has a 4 way adjustable pocket clip. Every detail on this knife has been scrutinized and where possible improved upon. Making this one knife that should be in everyone’s EDC collection.

length overall 8.281 “
blade length 3.438 “
Blade steel CPM S30V
Length closed 4.812 “
Cutting edge 3.078 “
Weight 3.9 oz.
Blade thickness .141
Handle material G-10

Spyderco Manix 2

The Spyderco Manix 2 is a second generation design. The big news over the original is the “Caged Ball Lock” or CBL lock design. The CBL lock is a Spyderco patented design. A captured steel ball bearing is the heart of this lock that automatically adjusts over time for continuous solid secure lock up. The design of this knife is geared more towards hard use over some of the others listed here. This is a heavy duty knife in a medium sized package. While not an extremely large knife, it is built like a tank and has a weight of 5 ounces. The Full flat ground leaf shaped CPM S30V blade offers great slicing while maintaining a very strong tip. This is due to its design. The blade has a full flat grind and distal taper. Making this a very strong blade that slices really well. The Manix 2 is Tip up carry only Right or Left hand carry. This medium sized knife is a hard use Beast. Cant go wrong with a Manix 2.

SPYDERCO MANIX 2

Length overall 8 “
Blade length 3.375 “
Blade steel CPM S30V
Length closed 4.625 “
Cutting edge 2.875 “
Weight 5 oz.
Blade thickness 0.125 “
Handle material G-10

Spyderco Military

Sal Glesser designed the Spyderco Military Knife with the military in mind. Not to take the place of a bayonet or a Ka-bar fighting knife. But rather a large 4″ blade that is both light weight and designed for hard use. Plus ideal for cutting not prying. This is where the large full flat ground blade excels. Cutting with ease most anything you will come across during your day in the field. This knife features G-10 scales with nested liners, a very solid liner lock and an excellent shaped CPM S30V blade with a large 14mm hole for ease of deployment. Tip down carry only, Right or Left hand. This model is a true Spyderco Classic. An excellent choice if your looking for a larger folding knife that is both tough and light weight.