
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.
Pocket Knife Comparison Table
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)
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
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 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

Spyderco Paramilitary 2
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.
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

Length closed 5.5″
Blade thickness .145″