Also known as a folding knife or jack-knife, the key characteristic of a pocket knife is that it should be highly portable and able to fit in, wait for it, yes a pocket. When closed they can be carried around safely. Its a generic term that groups together a couple of different pocket knife types which we describe in more detail below.
But before we get started if there is one feature to look for in a folding pocket knife, it’s a good quality locking mechanisms. Using a pocket knife without one is dangerous, even for the experienced knife handler. Locking mechanisms normally fall into two categories: (1) locking-liner (linerlocks) which have a spring loaded locking bar behind the rear tang of the blade when opened and (2) the functional lock-back which positions a stop bar parallel to the blade.
While we are on the subject of features, if you are in the market for a pocket knife look out for the following:
- a non-slip handle with some sort of guard to prevent your hand from slipping forward.
- a design that allows for single hand opening. This is normally passive via a thumb stud, flipper or hole on the blade.
- a lanyard so that you can tie the knife to your body for easy access and to prevent loss.
Main types of “pocket” knife
Simple Pocket Knife
The simplest pocket knives have a pivoted folding blade that is held in place either by a spring, a tensioning screw. Note: these should not be considered locking knives and should be avoided for all but the lightest tasks. Most have one blade.
Multitool knives (the Swiss army pocket knife)
A category first made famous by the Swiss Army Knife manufactured by Victronix that has grown rapidly in popularity. Each year it seems that more tools are added. On some models the knife blade is held in place by a locking mechanism, but in others it is not.
Tactical Folder
Although these have been marketed as alternatives to a fixed blade combat, hunting or survival knife, in reality they will not be as strong. Some tactical folding knives have blades that are well over 4 inches in length so these models can’t really be classified as “pocket” knives.
So as with all things the answer to the question “what is the best pocket knife” depends on what you are looking for. Do you need to use it for heavy duty tasks? How big are your pockets? Do you want additional tools such as a screwdriver, file, scissors etc? Once you’ve got those questions squared away, the best (and safest) pocket knife will practically always be one with a good quality locking mechanism.
