The best pocket knife
Quick answer: the Spyderco Para Military 2 (around $220) is the best pocket knife for most people. Spyderco builds it with a full-flat-ground CPM S45VN blade, its Compression Lock, a Round Hole that opens with either hand and a four-position clip, and owners on OpticsPlanet rate the listing (all 12 models) 4.9 out of 5 from 56 reviews, praising how sharp it arrives and how solid the lock feels. For the lightest carry, the Benchmade Bugout weighs 1.85 oz per Benchmade, at the cost of a handle owners say flexes. For the same Spyderco design in a smaller size, the Para 3. On a budget, the Spyderco Tenacious (around $75), whose carded model is partially serrated, or the plain-edge Delica 4 Lightweight. And if you want assisted opening, the Kershaw Leek.
A good pocket knife is sharp, locks open securely, opens with one hand and disappears in your pocket until you need it. Those goals pull against each other: a longer blade and a stiffer handle add weight, and a hard, thin edge slices well but does not like prying. Every card below names the exact model we checked. Where we read the maker's own page (for four of the six knives) we used it; where a figure comes only from the retailer's listing, the card says so.
Pocket knives compared
| Knife | Best for | Blade | Steel | Lock | Opening | Owner rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spyderco Para Military 2 | Overall | 3.45 in | CPM S45VN | Compression Lock | Manual, Round Hole | 4.9 (56) | around $220 |
| Benchmade Bugout 535 | Lightweight | 3.24 in | S30V | AXIS Lock | Manual, thumb stud | 4.6 (14) | around $200 |
| Spyderco Para 3 | Compact | 2.95 in | S30V per listing, S45VN per Spyderco | Compression Lock | Manual, Round Hole | 4.8 (18) | around $200 |
| Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight | Classic lightweight | 2.88 in | VG-10 | Back lock | Manual, Round Hole | 4.9 (10) | around $100 |
| Spyderco Tenacious G-10 | Budget, partially serrated | 3.39 in | 8Cr13MoV | Liner lock | Manual, Round Hole | 4.7 (9) | around $75 |
| Kershaw Leek King's Camo | Assisted opening | 3 in | 14C28N | Liner lock | Assisted, flipper | 5.0 (5) | around $80 |
Spyderco (Para Military 2 and Para 3 features), Benchmade and Kershaw figures are from each maker's own product page; the Delica and Tenacious specifications and the Para Military 2 and Para 3 blade lengths come from the retailer's listing. Owner ratings are OpticsPlanet's, shown with the number of reviews, and each covers every model on its listing. Prices are bands; confirm the current price and availability on the retailer page before you buy.
Our picks
Best pocket knife overall: Spyderco Para Military 2
Manual folder · 3.45 in full-flat-ground CPM S45VN blade · Compression Lock · Trademark Round Hole · four-position clip (Spyderco) · card: C81GPCMOBK2, black DLC-coated PlainEdge blade, digital camo G-10
around $220exact price on OpticsPlanet
The knife to start with if you want one folder that does everything. Spyderco builds the Para Military 2 around a full-flat-ground CPM S45VN blade, its Compression Lock, the Trademark Round Hole for one-handed opening with either hand, open-backed construction with skeletonized steel liners, and a four-position clip for tip-up or tip-down carry on either side. The version on this card pairs a black DLC-coated PlainEdge blade with digital camo G-10 scales and black-coated liners, clip and hardware, per Spyderco. Owners are close to unanimous: 49 of the 54 listed reviews give five stars, and the same three things come up again and again: it arrives very sharp, the lock feels solid, and the handle fits large and small hands. The trade-offs are just as consistent. It is a mid-size knife that some owners find big in the pocket, the thin tip does not like prying, and it is the most expensive knife on this page.
Pros
- Owners repeatedly describe it as very sharp out of the box, with a lock that feels solid
- Full-flat-ground blade slices well; one owner did feathering, wood shavings and notches with it
- Four-position clip and a Round Hole that opens with either hand, per Spyderco
- Spyderco warranty: defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product
Cons
- Mid-size: owners call it "a little big in the pocket" and point anyone who wants something more compact to the Para 3
- The thin tip and hard steel can chip under hard use; one electrician listed "Steel prone to chipping" after cutting large copper wire insulation
- Not a deep-carry clip: one owner writes that it leaves ½ inch of the handle exposed
- The most expensive knife on this page
Best for: anyone who wants one do-everything folder and does not mind a mid-size knife. If you want the same design smaller, pick the Para 3.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Spyderco |
|---|---|
| Blade | 3.45 in, CPM S45VN, full-flat grind, PlainEdge, black DLC coating |
| Blade thickness | 3.7 mm (retailer listing) |
| Lock | Compression Lock |
| Opening | Manual, Trademark Round Hole |
| Handle | Digital camo G-10, skeletonized steel liners |
| Clip | Four-position (tip-up or tip-down, left or right) |
| Warranty | Spyderco, defects in material and workmanship, life of the product |
| Spec source | Spyderco's Para Military 2 product and warranty pages; blade length and thickness from the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | C81GPCMOBK2 (UPC 716104006977) |
“Although on the large side it carries well in the pocket and thanks to the Spidey hole deploys quickly.”
John C, owner (CO) via OpticsPlanet
Best lightweight pocket knife: Benchmade Bugout 535
Manual folder · 3.24 in S30V drop-point blade · AXIS Lock · Grivory handle · mini deep carry clip · 1.85 oz (Benchmade) · card: 535GRY-1, gray Cerakote blade, green Grivory
around $200exact price on OpticsPlanet
A full-size blade that weighs next to nothing. Benchmade lists the Bugout 535GRY-1 at 1.85 oz with a 3.24 in S30V drop-point blade (58-60 HRC) in a Cerakote finish, 0.09 in thick, the AXIS Lock, Grivory scales and a mini deep carry clip, with an overall length of 7.46 in and 4.22 in closed. Owners say the same thing in different words: it is so light and thin that they forget it is in their pocket, and the deep clip helps it disappear. The weight saving has a price, and the most helpful critical review names it: the handle flexes, and the knife feels less solid than heavier Benchmades. Owners also agree it is not meant for heavy work.
Pros
- 1.85 oz with a 3.24 in blade, per Benchmade
- Mini deep carry clip; owners say it almost disappears in the pocket
- AXIS Lock; an owner who buys only AXIS knives for daily carry likes flipping it open and closed one-handed
- Benchmade LifeSharp: lifetime warranty and maintenance program, per Benchmade
Cons
- Grivory handle flex: the most helpful critical owner review says "the handle flex is obvious"
- Not for heavy work, per owners; one says not to expect to cut bones or chop wood
- Some owners report a gritty action or a sticky lock out of the box
- Costs nearly as much as the Para Military 2 for a lighter-built knife
Best for: everyday carry in light clothing, hiking and anyone who counts ounces. If you want a stiffer handle, the Para Military 2 is the heavier, more solid choice.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Benchmade |
|---|---|
| Blade | 3.24 in, S30V stainless (58-60 HRC), drop point, Cerakote |
| Blade thickness | 0.09 in |
| Lock | AXIS Lock |
| Opening | Manual, thumb stud (retailer listing) |
| Handle | Grivory (Benchmade: Ranger Green; retailer listing: Olive Drab) |
| Clip | Mini deep carry, PVD coated |
| Weight | 1.85 oz |
| Length | 7.46 in open, 4.22 in closed |
| Origin | Oregon City, per Benchmade |
| Spec source | Benchmade's own 535GRY-1 product page |
| Model on this card | 535GRY-1 (UPC 610953151393) |
“So light and thin, forget I have it in my pocket.”
Chip, owner (TN) via OpticsPlanet
Best compact pocket knife: Spyderco Para 3
Manual folder · 2.95 in full-flat-ground clip-point blade · Compression Lock (retailer listing) · four-position hourglass clip (Spyderco) · card: C223GP, PlainEdge, black G-10
around $200exact price on OpticsPlanet
The Para Military 2 made smaller. Spyderco describes the Para 3 as taking the Para Military 2's features into a more compact knife: a full-flat-ground blade, the Compression Lock, a textured choil and thumb ramp, the Trademark Round Hole, open-backed construction with liners nested in G-10, and a four-position hourglass clip. The retailer lists a 2.95 in blade. One owner who found the PM2 too big for everyday carry calls this the right size, and none of its 18 reviews is below four stars. One thing to check before you buy: the retailer listing names S30V steel for this row, while Spyderco's own Para 3 page lists C223GP in CPM S45VN, and one owner who ordered from the S30V listing in 2021 received S45VN.
Pros
- One owner who found the PM2 too big for everyday carry says this is the right size
- Same Compression Lock and Round Hole as the PM2; owners praise the lock and one-handed closing
- No review below four stars among its 18 on OpticsPlanet
- Spyderco warranty: defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product
Cons
- Steel is unclear: the listing says S30V, Spyderco's page says CPM S45VN for C223GP
- Clip: one owner writes "Deep carry clip would be an improvement", another fitted an aftermarket deep carry clip
- Shorter blade than the PM2 at about the same price
- A shorter owner record than the PM2: 18 reviews on OpticsPlanet
Best for: people who like the Para Military 2 but want a smaller knife for jeans or shorts.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Spyderco |
|---|---|
| Blade | 2.95 in, clip point, full-flat grind, PlainEdge (retailer listing) |
| Steel | Listing: S30V; Spyderco's Para 3 page: CPM S45VN for C223GP |
| Lock | Compression Lock |
| Opening | Manual, Trademark Round Hole |
| Handle | Black G-10, nested stainless steel liners |
| Clip | Four-position hourglass clip, tip-up or tip-down |
| Spec source | Spyderco's Para 3 product page; blade length and grind from the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | C223GP (UPC 716104011155) |
“Picked this up because I thought the PM2 I had was too big for edc.”
Grem, owner (MI) via OpticsPlanet
Best classic lightweight folder: Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight
Manual folder · 2.88 in VG-10 leaf blade · back lock · FRN handle · 2.5 oz · tip-up/tip-down, left/right clip (retailer listing) · card: C11PBK, PlainEdge, black FRN
around $100exact price on OpticsPlanet
A light, plain, proven Spyderco for a lot less money. The retailer lists the Delica 4 Lightweight with a 2.88 in VG-10 leaf-shaped blade 2.5 mm thick, a back lock, a fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle with bi-directional texturing, skeletonized stainless liners, phosphor bronze washers, a tip-up or tip-down clip for either side, a 2.5 oz weight and a 7.125 in overall length, designed by Sal Glesser. Owners write about how little they notice it, how sharp it arrives and how solid the lock-up is, and one says the grip works with wet or gloved hands. Its owner record is short, with 10 reviews, and the smaller blade is the trade for the weight.
Pros
- 2.5 oz with a 2.88 in blade, per the retailer listing
- Owners say it arrives very sharp and the lock-up is "rock solid"
- Textured FRN handle; an owner says the grip works with wet or gloved hands
- About half the price of the Para 3
Cons
- Smallest blade on this page, 2.88 in
- One owner would like a finger choil, which this blade shape does not have
- A short owner record: 10 reviews on OpticsPlanet
- The retailer contradicts itself on the grind (full-flat in its data, flat saber-ground in its description)
Best for: a first good knife, an office or work pocket, or a light second knife. If you want a bigger blade on a budget, look at the Tenacious.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Spyderco |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sal Glesser |
| Blade | 2.88 in, VG-10, leaf shape, PlainEdge, 2.5 mm thick |
| Lock | Back lock |
| Opening | One-handed (Round Hole) |
| Handle | FRN with bi-directional texturing, skeletonized stainless liners |
| Clip | Tip-up or tip-down, left or right |
| Weight | 2.5 oz |
| Length | 7.125 in open, 4.25 in closed |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table and features |
| Model on this card | C11PBK, black FRN (UPC 716104001033) |
“Grip design works great even with wet hands or gloved hands.”
Lisa B., owner via OpticsPlanet
Best budget pocket knife: Spyderco Tenacious G-10 (partially serrated)
Manual folder · 3.39 in 8Cr13MoV leaf blade, PARTIALLY SERRATED, black DLC · liner lock · G-10 handle (retailer listing) · card: C122GBBKPS
around $75exact price on OpticsPlanet
The least expensive knife on this page, and a Spyderco you will not mind using hard. Read the edge first: the model on this card has a partially serrated blade. The retailer lists a 3.39 in 8Cr13MoV leaf-shaped blade, flat ground, with a black DLC finish, a Michael Walker liner lock, black G-10 scales, textured spine jimping, an oversized Round Hole and a tip-up or tip-down clip. Owners call it great value and a good way into Spyderco, and like that they can use it without worrying about it. Two owners say it is made in China and a third that it is not the Colorado-made version, and one says the clip is not deep carry.
Pros
- The lowest price on this page
- Owners describe it as very sharp out of the box, and one says the edge was still very sharp after a month
- G-10 scales and a Round Hole in a mid-size 3.39 in blade
- One owner uses it for box cutting, cord and "dirty" tasks to spare a more expensive knife
Cons
- The carded model is partially serrated; if you want a plain edge, choose a plain-edge row on the listing
- 8Cr13MoV is a budget steel, the most basic blade steel on this page
- Owners say it is made in China; one notes it is not the made in Colorado version
- Clip is not deep carry, per an owner
Best for: a first Spyderco, a work or glovebox knife, or anyone who wants serrations for rope and cord.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Spyderco |
|---|---|
| Blade | 3.39 in, 8Cr13MoV, leaf shape, flat ground, black DLC |
| Edge | Partially serrated (the model on this card) |
| Lock | Michael Walker liner lock |
| Opening | Manual, oversized Round Hole |
| Handle | Black G-10 |
| Clip | Tip-up or tip-down |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table and features |
| Model on this card | C122GBBKPS (UPC 716104009343) |
“At this price, you won't be worried about keeping it pristine; you'll actually use it!”
Sams, owner (TN) via OpticsPlanet
Best assisted-opening pocket knife: Kershaw Leek King's Camo
Assisted opening folder · 3 in 14C28N blade, BlackWash · liner lock · 6061-T6 aluminum handle with XK7 camo · 2.6 oz (Kershaw) · card: 1660KC
around $80exact price on OpticsPlanet
The only assisted opener on this page. Kershaw lists the Leek 1660KC with a 3 in 14C28N blade (HRC 58-60) in a BlackWash finish, 0.09 in thick, a 6061-T6 aluminum handle with the XK7 camo pattern, a liner lock, assisted opening, a reversible clip, a 2.6 oz weight and a 7 in overall length, and says it is designed and manufactured in the USA with American and global materials. The retailer's listing adds a flipper and SpeedSafe assisted opening. Owners like the size and the smooth assist, and one who took the BlackWash finish camping and fishing says it still looks new. The catch is the record: only five reviews, all five stars.
Pros
- Assisted opening with a flipper, the only one on this page
- 2.6 oz and 4 in closed, per Kershaw
- Designed and manufactured in the USA with American and global materials, per Kershaw
- An owner reports the BlackWash finish still looked new after a month of camping and fishing
Cons
- Only five owner reviews, too few to judge long-term reliability
- Small: one owner warns it "may be too small for some"
- Thin 0.09 in blade, built for slicing rather than prying
- The retailer's listing-wide spec says frame lock and 3.68 oz; Kershaw's page for this model says liner lock and 2.6 oz
Best for: people who want a slim knife that opens fast with one finger. If you want a bigger owner record, pick a Spyderco above.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Kershaw |
|---|---|
| Designer | Ken Onion (retailer listing) |
| Blade | 3 in, 14C28N (HRC 58-60), BlackWash, 0.09 in thick |
| Lock | Liner lock (Kershaw; the retailer listing says frame lock) |
| Opening | Assisted, flipper |
| Handle | 6061-T6 aluminum, XK7 camo |
| Clip | Reversible, tip-up or tip-down |
| Weight | 2.6 oz |
| Length | 7 in open, 4 in closed |
| Spec source | Kershaw's own Leek King's Camo product page |
| Model on this card | 1660KC (UPC 087171072500) |
“The size is small enough for EDC, regardless of the clothing you wear.”
Larry, reviewer (DE) via OpticsPlanet
How to choose a pocket knife
- Blade length. The knives here run from 2.88 in (Delica) to 3.45 in (Para Military 2). One PM2 owner who found it big moved to the 2.95 in Para 3; a longer blade slices more per stroke but carries bigger.
- Lock. Every knife here locks open: the Para Military 2 and Para 3 use Spyderco's Compression Lock, the Bugout Benchmade's AXIS Lock, the Tenacious and Leek a liner lock and the Delica a back lock. Owners of the Spyderco and Benchmade locks single out one-handed closing.
- Weight and handle. Light handles (Grivory, FRN) save weight; the Bugout's most helpful critical review says its thin Grivory handle flexes. G-10 and aluminum feel stiffer.
- Clip. A deep carry clip hides more of the handle. Benchmade fits the Bugout with a mini deep carry clip; owners of the Para Military 2 and Tenacious say theirs are not deep carry, and Para 3 owners disagree with each other on it.
- Plain or serrated edge. Five knives here are plain edge. The Tenacious on this page is partially serrated, which one owner likes for cord cutting.
- Hard steel, thin tip. The Para Military 2's thin, full-flat-ground tip draws repeated owner cautions about chipping: use it to slice, not to pry.
- Carry law. Knife rules vary by state and city; check your local law before you carry.
Which pocket knife is the best EDC knife?
For everyday carry (EDC), the Benchmade Bugout. Benchmade lists it at 1.85 oz, the lowest of the weights published for the knives on this page, with a 3.24 in blade that closes to 4.22 in and a mini deep carry clip. Owners say it disappears: "So light and thin, forget I have it in my pocket." The trade-off is the one on its card: the most helpful critical review says the Grivory handle flexes, so it is a carry knife, not a hard-use one. If you want something smaller, the Kershaw Leek (2.6 oz and 4 in closed, per Kershaw) and the Delica 4 Lightweight (2.5 oz and 4.25 in closed, per the retailer listing) are the compact options, and one Leek reviewer writes: "The size is small enough for EDC, regardless of the clothing you wear." The Para Military 2 remains the best knife overall, but it is mid-size, and one PM2 owner found it too big for EDC and moved to the Para 3.
| Knife | Blade | Weight | Closed | Clip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmade Bugout 535 | 3.24 in | 1.85 oz | 4.22 in | Mini deep carry |
| Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight | 2.88 in | 2.5 oz | 4.25 in | Tip-up or tip-down, left or right |
| Kershaw Leek King's Camo | 3 in | 2.6 oz | 4 in | Reversible, tip-up or tip-down |
| Spyderco Para 3 | 2.95 in | - | - | Four-position hourglass; owners split on deep carry |
| Spyderco Tenacious G-10 | 3.39 in | - | - | Tip-up or tip-down; not deep carry, per an owner |
| Spyderco Para Military 2 | 3.45 in | - | - | Four-position; an owner measured ½ inch of handle exposed |
Bugout figures are Benchmade's and Leek figures Kershaw's; Delica figures come from the retailer listing. A dash means we could not confirm the figure for the exact model on the card, so we leave it out.
Why three Spydercos
The Para Military 2 had more owner reviews (56) than any other folding knife we read in the retailer's folding knife category, sorted by review count. The three Spydercos here cover three budgets and sizes, and each card names the exact model because one listing can hold a dozen steels, colors and edges under one rating. The Para Military 2 line also has an award to its name, though not for the model we card: BLADE Magazine lists the Spyderco Para Military 2 Salt, a MagnaCut sibling, as the 2024 BLADE Show winner for Most Innovative American Design.
How we chose these
This is a research-based roundup, not a hands-on test. We started from the retailer's folding knife category sorted by most reviews, opened each listing's full model block (every orderable variant, with used and demo units set aside) to find the exact model each card links to, and read every owner review on each listing, including every low-star one. For the Para Military 2, our top pick, we checked the model, its steel and the warranty against Spyderco's own pages; we did the same for the Para 3, the Benchmade Bugout and the Kershaw Leek. Claims we found only in secondary research and could not confirm at the source were left out. Our scores are our opinion; owner ratings are shown attributed to the retailer that collected them. See our methodology for how we work.
FAQ
What is the best pocket knife?
For most people, the Spyderco Para Military 2. Spyderco builds it with a full-flat-ground CPM S45VN blade, the Compression Lock, a Round Hole that opens with either hand and a four-position clip, and it carries 4.9 out of 5 from 56 owner reviews on OpticsPlanet. If you want less weight, the Benchmade Bugout is 1.85 oz per Benchmade. If you want to spend less, the Spyderco Tenacious and Delica 4 Lightweight cost far less.
What is the best EDC knife?
Of the knives on this page, the Benchmade Bugout. Benchmade lists it at 1.85 oz with a 3.24 in blade, 4.22 in closed and a mini deep carry clip, and owners say they forget it is in their pocket; the trade-off is a handle its most helpful critical review says flexes. For a smaller everyday knife, the Kershaw Leek is 2.6 oz and 4 in closed per Kershaw, and the Delica 4 Lightweight is 2.5 oz and 4.25 in closed per the retailer listing. The Para Military 2 is the best all-rounder but mid-size, and owners call it a little big in the pocket.
Spyderco Para 3 or Para Military 2?
Same design, different size. The retailer lists a 2.95 in blade for the Para 3 against 3.45 in for the Para Military 2, and Spyderco describes the Para 3 as the Para Military 2 made more compact. One owner who found the PM2 too big for everyday carry moved to the Para 3; if you want the longer blade, the PM2 is the one.
Plain edge or serrated pocket knife?
A plain edge is the everyday default and is what five of the six knives on this page carry. Serrations help on rope, cord and webbing. One Delica owner found a combination edge snagged on foam and cardboard but worked well on webbing; a Tenacious owner says his partially serrated blade cuts through anything.
Is the Kershaw Leek assisted opening?
Yes. Kershaw lists the Leek King's Camo (1660KC) with assisted opening and a liner lock, and the retailer's listing describes SpeedSafe assisted opening with a flipper.
What does a good pocket knife warranty cover?
On this page, Spyderco's warranty covers defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product and excludes abuse, misuse, improper sharpening and normal wear and tear. Benchmade calls LifeSharp its lifetime warranty and maintenance program.
More gear: Benchmade Infidel review (an automatic OTF dagger, not a pocket-knife pick) · best concealed carry holster · best pistol light · how we evaluate.