If you’re like me and always got somethin’ in your pocket ready for whatever the day throws at ya – opening boxes at work, cutting rope on the boat, fixin’ a loose screw on the kid’s bike – a solid everyday carry knife just makes life easier. Back when I turned 40 my wife got me my first “real” knife instead of the gas-station special I’d been using for years. Man, what a difference. These are some of the coolest ones I either own, borrowed from buddies, or keep eyeing every time I walk past the case at the hardware store.
Light as a feather but tough as nails. This thing disappears in your jeans pocket and the Axis lock is slicker than a greased pig – flips open one-handed while you’re holdin’ a coffee in the other. Blade holds an edge forever and comes in a bunch of colors if you wanna look a little less tactical at the family cookout.
That big ol’ hole in the blade makes it open faster than my father-in-law tells the same fish story. Super grippy handles even when your hands are wet from filleting crappie, and it’s small enough your wife won’t give you the side-eye when you pull it out at Applebee’s to cut steak.
Skinny, classy, and assisted opening that snaps out like it’s got someplace to be. I know a bunch of guys who keep one on their Sunday belt right next to the wallet – looks more like a gentleman’s knife than a workhorse, but it’ll still gut a deer if you ask nice.
Chunky little tank that feels like it was made in America even if it wasn’t. The flipper tab is huge – perfect for us guys with farmer hands – and the frame lock is rock solid. Fits in the coin pocket of your Wranglers and nobody even knows it’s there.
Best bang-for-the-buck knife on the planet right now. Smooth ball-bearing pivot, D2 steel that actually stays sharp longer than you’d expect for fifty bucks, and looks way more expensive than it is. I bought one “just to try” and now it’s the one I grab every single morning.
Fancy enough to make your buddies jealous but still rides low in the pocket and cuts like the devil. Kinda spendy, but if you’re the guy who already owns every tool Snap-On makes, you’ll understand why this one feels special every time you click it open.
Cheap, cheerful, and slides in your pocket like it was born there. The sheepfoot blade is perfect for not stabbing through boxes (or your finger), and the denim Micarta scales look better the more beat-up they get – just like a good pair of boots.
Built like a brick outhouse with a tri-way pivot so you decide if you want it buttery smooth or stiff as your back after raking leaves. Yeah it costs more than my first truck payment, but some things are just worth it when you use ’em every dang day.