As far as shopping experiences go, there are few as personal and, perhaps, spiritual as buying your first pocket knife. As common and versatile tools, people looking to purchase their first knife often face the pitfall of there being far too many options. For a lot of shoppers who do not really know what they are looking for in a knife, aside from it fitting in a pocket, this can make the process a little daunting.
This helpful guide will help you find the perfect pocket knife with qualities to suit your need, be it as an everyday carry (EDC), or a closely guarded heirloom.
What Do You Need It For?
When out shopping for your very first pocket knife, the most important thing to bear in mind is what you need to use the knife for.
Everyday Carry
Unless you have a specific knife use in mind for a pocket knife, you are most likely a jack-of-all-trades looking for a quality EDC. Something you can use to open boxes, and envelopes, and take care of other little things that come up in a day, this pocket knife blade should be handy.
If you are looking for an EDC, you will probably be looking for a pocket knife you can clip to your pocket or belt for easy access, so it needs to be light enough to be comfortable on your waist. You may opt for a more automatic knife that you can open with one hand or a more versatile multi-tool like a Swiss Army knife. Every aspect of the shopping experience is personal and specific to your needs, so be sure to consider them.
Carving
If you fancy yourself the outdoorsman or woman who likes to engrave and whittle, you will have to narrow your search a little. While someone with more experience may be able to comfortably carve up wood with any knife they happen to have on hand, beginners should definitely be particular about the type of blade they go for, as well as the blade length.
Generally, and especially for those just getting started, the best knives for working with wood will have longer, thin blades that are not as rounded on the end. For those who lack the control and experience to comfortably work with a longer blade, it could be worth considering a penknife, or other style pocket knife that has both a long and short blade included.
Another thing to bear in mind when searching for a carving knife is the thickness of the blade steel. Try to avoid buying a pocket knife with a blade thicker than 15mm as it may hinder you from making more surgical cuts.
Hunting and Fishing
For the next-level nature buff who prides themselves on cutting and cleaning their own meat, there are different things to consider. Unlike the blade types preferred for working with wood, a pocket knife intended for working with a game will have a very different point and blade length.
For working with smaller land animals, the best blade types are most likely the drop point, clip point, and skinning blades. These blades have wider bellies that allow more control when cutting through flesh.
If you enjoy fishing as much as you do the hunting, these blades will still do the trick, but it is worth looking for one that includes a gut hook if you prefer to use one. Oftentimes the same style pocket knife can be found with or without a gut hook, but it is not a requirement as the hunting knives are still more than capable of accomplishing the same thing without one.
Heirloom Knives
When buying any pocket knife, it is absolutely worth doing your homework and taking close consideration of the options. That said, when you are looking for a knife you can pass down to your descendants, you will have to think even harder. If you have a bigger budget, this is a knife to spend it on.
While you will consider the design and quality of any pocket knife before you buy it, heirloom blades have to have a deeply personal feel to them. Just about any high-quality pocket knife should be able to withstand a few lifetimes, not just any good knife is necessarily worthy of being passed down.
Look for materials and designs that speak to you. You may consider some gorgeous waved Damascus steel blades, or handles that use materials such as priceless gems and ancient petrified mammoth bone knife material. It should have a good amount of corrosion resistance. Whatever look you go for, just make sure that you feel drawn to the pocket knife in a truly personal way.
Types of Pocket Knives
Once you know what you plan to use your knife for, it will be much easier to choose the type of knife which suits you.
Locking Knives
One popular style of pocket knife is the locking knife, both safe and convenient. While they all accomplish the same task of keeping the blade from closing on the users’ fingers, there are several kinds of popular locking mechanisms.
Most common are likely the frame lock and liner lock, both of which allow the user to fold away the blade by physically pressing the lockout of the way.
If you want a little extra security, Lockback, midblock, and ring locking mechanisms involve more powerful braces holding the blade open. Most of these need two hands to close, so there is definitely an element of convenience that needs to be sacrificed in exchange for safety.
Slip Joint Knives
They may not be as safe to use as locking pocket knives are, a slip joint knife is probably what comes to mind when a person imagines a classic pocket knife. These knives have a small spring in the handle that uses pressure to keep the blade extended. Users do need to be a little more careful, though, to avoid any accidental closures.
Despite seeming like a disadvantage in terms of safety, the ease of use makes slip joint knives one of the best choices for light and common tasks.
Tactical Folding Knives
Another common type of pocket knife is the tactical folding knife. These knives were first designed for soldiers to use in the field, allowing them to open and close the knife single-handed and instantaneously.
Manufacturers began to add studs and small holes to their blades to circumvent the need for the nail nick, letting the user swing the blade open or closed with as little as their thumb. These blades are often thinner, lighter, and have built-in clips for easy carrying.
Size and Weight
While the actual size and weight of a pocket knife tend to be the last thing a buyer thinks of, and only once the knife is in their hand, it is one of the most important things to bear in mind in your search.
Blade length is incredibly important to consider, and again strongly depends on what you plan to use your first pocket knife for. Shorter blades afford you more control over the knife but may hinder your ability to make certain kinds of cuts. Too long of a blade, however, and it may feel like working with a kitchen knife, at which point the pocket knife loses any kind of convenience it provided before.
Like blade length, the weight of your knife is similarly important. Make sure the knife feels comfortable in your hand. You want it to be light enough that you can use it at will without worrying about exhausting yourself, but heavy enough that you have total control over the direction and angle of the knife.
Accessories
Not as important as the pocket knife itself, but still worth considering, are the accessories that come with a knife.
Nowadays, many knives intended more for everyday carry come with a clip built-in. If you prefer keeping your pocket knife right on your belt or stopping it from dropping to the bottom of your pockets, the clip might be very handy.
For fancier blades that you hope to pass down, you may want to consider more ornate wooden display cases. If you still want to keep your heirloom on your person regularly but are worried about losing or scuffing it in your pockets, you might prefer a sterling silver chain to wear your knife as a pendant necklace.
Once you start looking at more high-end knives, whether intended as heirlooms or simply high-quality utility pieces, you will need to think more seriously about general care and maintenance. Some knives will come with specific instructions for sharpening and cleaning based on the blade steel or handle material.
How often a blade may need to be sharpened depends on the specific knife manufacturer and materials. For example, William Henry pocket knives are recommended to be sharpened every 18 to 24 months. William Henry will periodically sharpen your knife for just $10 (the cost of shipping it back to you). Just compile the appropriate form here, ship it to us, and we will get it done for you.
