The Best Pocket Knives of 2023

To understand why the Dragonfly 2 ($105) is the best pocket knife for 95% of users, we need to talk about what it’s not. First, it’s not a big knife — the leaf-shaped blade measures just 2.25 inches. Opening and closure come through a large finger hole and back lock, providing an action that’s quick but not terribly exciting. Then there’s the steel on the base model: Plain ol’ VG-10. Goodness, GearJunkie, how vanilla can you be?

Here’s where we prove our point. The Dragonfly 2’s small size makes it incredibly legal (as always, check your local statutes), eminently pocketable, and friendly in appearance. The blade is small, thin, and well-ground, with just enough reach to tackle everyday tasks such as slicing packaging or cordage. While the thumb hole and back lock aren’t fancy, we’ve found them to be satisfying, accessible, and robust.

And before you scoff at VG-10, here’s a bit of real-world truth for you: You know who likes VG-10? Professional chefs who use their knives more in a day than most of us will in a month. It holds a keen edge, sharpens up with ease, and packs a level of stain resistance far above harder steels like D2. 

We get it — the Dragonfly 2 isn’t terribly exciting for blade nerds. But it can be, given the wide range of steels, handle scales, and available blade shapes. And for the rest of the populace, this is an outstanding entry into the world of pocket knives. Accessibility is another key factor. The Dragonfly 2 can be found at many brick-and-mortar retailers and has managed to remain affordable. While knives like the Benchmade 940 have nearly doubled in price over the last 6 years, this Spyderco has gone up only about $12. 

The Spyderco Dragonfly 2 is our Best Overall because it ticks the most boxes for most people. It’s capable and classic, as well-made as it is easy to use and, whether you’re shopping online or in person, both affordable and available.

Don’t confuse flashy looks, complicated locks, and “fidget-factor” silliness with what “Best” means. The Dragonfly 2 does exactly what you want a pocket knife to do — cut and carry with ease. And if you want the same experience only bigger, check out our top pick from last year, the Spyderco Chaparral LW. 

The headline for GearJunkie’s review of the CRJB Ekko ($57) reads as follows: “Quite Possibly the Best Budget Pocket Knife Ever.” And until another sub-$60 blade can knock it off its throne, we stand by that sentiment wholeheartedly. Here’s what makes the Ekko the best for the price. 

First, there’s the blade. That beautiful AR-RPM9 Wharncliffe is an all-points champ, able to tackle everything from food prep to daily chores. The knife’s thin edge runs the length of its wide belly, ending in that wonderful forward tooth that makes this style perfect for opening packages. And thanks to its powder metallurgy, the Ekko’s blade will remain stain-free much longer than knives using other budget steels. It’s a thing of beauty, from the moment it locks into place. 

And speaking of which, it should be noted that the Ekko comes in both button lock and liner lock variants. Both are solid options, but we strongly prefer the former. The button lock cranks the action to an almost absurd level, while also keeping your fingers out of the blade path during closure. 

So who’s responsible for this excellent blend of edges and curves? None other than Ray Laconico, one of the most recognizable names in the business. His grasp of form and function is on full display with the Ekko, and CRJB’s manufacturing plant (owned by Artisan Cutlery) knocked its production out of the park. 

The downsides of this knife are minor and twofold: The strange four-letter brand name, and the un-recessed base of its pocket clip. The first of these can safely be ignored from the get-go, and the second bit is really more of a quibble. At no point did the raised screws (perhaps a millimeter, at most) get genuinely hung up on the pocket. 

Read Review: CJRB Ekko Review: Quite Possibly the Best Budget Pocket Knife Ever

From the second we opened the Squid XM ($45), we knew that this knife was something special. That form-fitting handle, the quick snap of the blade, and the easiness of each cut that followed — call us crazy, but this CRKT is its own kind of apex EDC. 

What makes it our “Best Outdoors” pick? The answer is different than you might think. In general, assisted openers are a tough sell for GearJunkie. But when you’re facing grimy conditions, with dirt making its way into a knife’s pivot and dulling the action, the extra boost provided by the XM’s spring makes a world of practical difference. 

But there are a ton of assisted openers or automatics on the market. This particular Squid sets itself apart from the rest with its excellent ergonomics, affordable yet rugged materials, and a blade that just cuts and cuts. Designer Lucas Burnley knows what he’s doing, and the XM’s all-purpose blade is at home around the grill as it is in the garden or campsite. 

As much as we love this CRKT, there are a few issues that buyers need to consider. First, the assisted opening may be illegal depending on where you live. And though the materials are well-finished, they do lack some of the flash of pricier options. You should also know that “Best Outdoors” isn’t the same as “Best Hiking.” The XM is a bit heavy, and wouldn’t be the best pick for a long trail. For those applications, the Victorinox Hiker is probably a better choice. 

As to the XM’s steel, D2 is a proven performer. And what a value, as the Squid actually costs less than our “Best Budget” pick. For daily use in mostly indoor conditions, the Ekko has more to offer. But when the going gets outdoorsy and tough, the Squid XM has the edge. 

Read Review: The CRKT Squid XM

It wouldn’t be a “Best” list without a Victorinox. And in the ratio of versatility to value, this Hiker ($36) is a hard knife to beat. This Swiss Army Knife packs thirteen tools between those iconic red slabs, including two blades, a wood saw, and both Phillips and flathead drivers. This comes in addition to the tweezers, toothpick, and bottle opener that serve as company mainstays. 

Let’s go back to the blades for a moment. Having two cutting edges is useful, and allows you to tackle a wider variety of tasks. Users can choose one blade for messy or difficult chores and reserve the other for when precision cuts are required. And with their thin edges and spines, both of the Hiker’s blades will out-slice wider pocket knives, even when they eventually dull. 

It’s hard to beat the price, too. For just under $25, you’re getting a lightweight, friendly-looking tool that’ll be at home in both the city and the countryside. Even if you spend most of your days in a white-collar setting, no coworker should balk at you carrying a Victorinox. 

Still, there are a few downsides. This particular model lacks scissors, and tools like the wire stripper are dubiously useful. There’s also no pocket clip to be found, and other than “Stainless,” Victorinox doesn’t always put a descriptor next to their steel. But after decades of producing reliable tools, this company is one of the few that can get away with it.

We’ve never had a problem with the cutting performance of Victorinox’s blades, and their stainlessness lives up to its billing. The company’s knives are also quite easy to sharpen in the field, making it a great choice for off-the-map antics. 

If you’re looking for something more pliers-centric, you could opt for another of our favorites, the Leatherman Skeletool. Or, hop over to our list of the Best Multitools for 2023 and check out additional options. But for all-purpose daily use, Victorinox is an industry leader for a reason. 

Has Benchmade come out with a bigger hit than the Bugout ($180+)? Not since the 940 or Griptilian has the brand so captured a market segment.

Aimed specifically at hikers, the Bugout offers 3.24 inches of sharpened S30V steel, textured grips, and a perfect deep-carry pocket clip in a package weighing under 2 ounces. Add in the snappy, fidget-friendly action of the Axis Lock, and you’re left with something truly special.

There are a few pitfalls here, though. To save ounces, Benchmade designed the Bugout with only the smallest of steel liners. This means most of that gorgeous blue handle is purely plastic.

While the spacer posts will keep it from collapsing, a hard grip will squeeze the slabs together. But this is a light-duty knife, so you shouldn’t be bearing down on it in the first place.

For what it is, we consider the abbreviated liners to be only a minor issue. More troubling is the price creep. When we first reviewed the Bugout in 2018, it cost $120. A few years later, the price has grown to $180 and up depending on optional handle scale and steel upgrades.

But even with the added cost, it’s hard not to enjoy the Bugout. It’s a straightforward, eminently carryable knife with a wonderfully slicey blade. Heck, there’s even a mini version out there if you’re looking for a sub-3-inch blade. And if you feel like building your own, Benchmade offers an excellent customizer tool.

Read Review: The Benchmade Bugout

This entry comes as a slight shift in gears. Last year, we recommended the Salt 2 Wharncliffe, another green-handled LC200N blade derived from the ever-popular Delica. 

But after a recent bout of gardening, garage chores, and a mountain of daily work, we’ve fallen back in love with Spyderco’s most underrated platform: The outstanding Native 5 ($216). This workhorse design has everything you need to tackle not just fancified “EDC” tasks, but the real work that comes on the high seas or in the industrial jungle. 

The blade represents Spyderco’s classic leaf shape, three inches of pure capability. It’s shorter than a bruiser like the Paramilitary 2, but because of its thicker tip and narrower shoulders, the Native 5 is more suited to a wider variety of tasks, and it’s a better slicer to boot.

Sure, last year’s winner might cut a smidge better, but there’s the grip factor to consider. Spyderco’s FRN is generally great, but the ergonomics of the Native 5 boast several improvements over the Delica. First, the handle is simply thicker and more palm-filling. And second, the sculpted contours and generous forward finger choil provide a chunky, natural experience that allows you to bear down with confidence, even when there’s moisture involved. 

And moisture really is the Salt Series’ bailiwick. LC200N steel is rust-proof for all intents and purposes while holding an edge on par with a classic all-around choice like CPM-S35VN. Will it cut for as long as something like M390? No, but it’ll sharpen up a heck of a lot easier. This toughness embodies everything about the Native 5 platform, and we love it. 

On the downside, the knife’s standard (but swappable) clip will have it riding rather high in your pocket. But in a work setting where you might be pulling it out with wet hands, this has its advantages. And while the back lock is tried and true tech, it’s not the fanciest mechanism out there.

This one may be a bit of a departure from the norm, but if you’d like to stand out from the James Brand-carrying office crowd, this slick little number from CRKT has impressed our testers since it was introduced.

The Crossbones ($82) makes a subtle statement with a very unique aluminum handle design and narrow, slicey, 3.54-inch AUS8 steel blade. It opens super smoothly on the CRKT IKBS ball-bearing system and locks out nicely with a liner lock. While AUS 8 is squarely middle-of-the-road blade steel, for this style of EDC knife, it’s a perfect choice.

It holds an edge reasonably well but is very corrosion-resistant. It’s also easy to sharpen. So, for a knife that will likely open a lot of letters and boxes but probably not do much bushcrafting, it has a reasonable price while offering plenty of performance.

While the blade length is right at the edge of legality for concealed carry in some cities, the Crossbones is generally inconspicuous. It won’t raise eyebrows if you flick it out to open packages in the office. And it disappears nicely into a pocket with a deep carry clip. The clip loads the knife easily into the left or right hip pocket. Thanks to its location on the long handle, it stays out of the way for either right or left-handed use.

Our tester has been using this knife for more than a year and loves it. Among his large collection, this knife is a go-to when he’s wearing lighter pants or dress clothes but still wants to carry a knife — which is a lot of the time. The Crossbones goes well with a suit, tie, or bolo. And while it looks nice, it still packs a very effective cutting tool. For an EDC that brings an element of fashion, the CRTK Crossbones is hard to beat.

The Gerber Fastball ($130) is an American-made gem of a knife. Versatile and effective, the Fastball flicks open with a wonderful “thunk” to give the user a substantial yet easy-to-carry folding knife.

The Fastball starts out with excellent and time-tested S30V steel. Sure, it’s not top-of-the-line anymore. But for a reasonable price, it’s still amazingly good steel and will perform well in terms of edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. Next, Gerber’s B.O.S.S (balls of stainless steel) tech provides one smooth-opening knife. Flick it. Go ahead. The thumb finger flipper is so appealing on this knife. And a nice pull actuates the blade consistently and quickly. It locks out very sturdily with a liner lock.

What we love about this knife is its versatile and rugged Wharncliffe blade. It’s a lesser-used shape compared to the drop point, but one that can really work well. This 3-inch blade has a fantastic grind that narrows the tip substantially, resulting in a tool that can do darned near anything pretty well.

We’ve carried it both as an EDC knife to the office. But it performs just as well in the field as a camp knife. It even works pretty well for food prep — at least as much as one can expect from a small pocket knife that carries great. Speaking of that, it has an ambidextrous clip, so lefties aren’t left out of the party.

After a couple of years of testing, we did lose a screw from our test model. Fortunately, Gerber is very easy to contact for replacements. Now, the handle is once again snug and tight and this is one of our top go-to knives in the kit. 

It’s worth noting that you can customize these a lot. Gerber has some great designs. Ours rocks a pointing dog on the handle, a small touch that makes the knife a bit more special.

The Narrows ($580) is a feat of engineering. Somehow, the folks at Benchmade managed to cram an AXIS Lock, a reversible pocket clip, and almost three and a half inches of M390 edge into a handle that’s barely over a quarter-inch wide. Its daily performance and utility floored our reviewer, almost as much as its price tag. Narrow or not, this cutting-edge Benchmade will run you well over $500. That’s a lot of dough for what is, essentially, a very thin pocket knife. But if you want the latest and greatest, the Narrows is an intriguing option.

Read Review: The Benchmade Narrows

Few companies offer a better stable of knives than Spyderco. And of all their hits, none has resonated quite like the Chapparal Lightweight ($167). One reviewer dubbed it the “collection killer,” as it prompted him to stop buying knives altogether. After experiencing the apex of cutting prowess and carryability, what was the point?

While it lives up to its lightweight billing, the Chapparal is in no way cheap. Spyderco included skeletonized stainless steel liners within its FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon) slabs as well as a full steel backspacer.

Its back lock mechanism is a classic, as simple as it is reliable. Add in one of the company’s excellent wireframe pocket clips, and you’re left with a paragon of comfort and function.

If there’s a caveat here, it lies in the blade steel. While CTS-XHP is an incredible material, it presents itself as (pun incoming) a kind of double-edged sword.

On the one hand, you get affordability, superior hardness, and great edge retention. It can, however, be more prone to staining than other similarly priced steels. But you can avoid this by simply wiping down the blade after each use and hitting it with a touch of oil every now and then.

It’s light, it’s discreet, and it cuts like hell. If you’re in the market for a pocket knife that just works, the Chapparal Lightweight is a solid option.

When it comes to budget blades, no one does it better than Civivi. As the discount wing of WE Knives, the brand has become known for releasing quality tools without the premium price. One of the best among these is the Elementum ($50), a truly great all-around knife for everyday carry.

Its 3-inch blade is composed of D2 steel, one of the best options in this price range. And the knife’s “action” (opening of the blade via its flipper tab) is on par with alternatives costing twice as much.

If there’s a downside here, it’s the steel. D2 will hold an edge for quite some time, but it isn’t exactly the most rustproof of materials. It’s kind of the older cousin to the CTS-XHP found on our top pick, which means you’ll need to take the same kind of precautions. Be sure to dry the blade before tucking it back between the liners to avoid any sort of discoloration.

But overall, it’s hard not to like the Elementum. It comes in a wide array of materials, colors, and configurations. So if you’re a fan of the design but want to make an upgrade to the blade steel, Civivi has you covered. We like its budget configuration as well and wholeheartedly recommend it as an EDC option.