Best New Knives Going Into 2025: KnifeCenter's Top Picks
We’ve seen a lot of fantastic new knives this past year. David C. Andersen from KnifeCenter has handled well over 1000 new knife releases in 2024 on our YouTube channel. These are the ones that stood out to him the most, covering everything from the budget-friendly to the high-end. Does that make them the best new knives available in 2025? That is what we are here to find out.
First, a note. Many folks know, David recently released his first production knife collaboration, the MKM Pocket Tango. We love the Pocket Tango, and we think it’s a great knife, but you’re not going to find it on this list; David excluded it from his rankings to avoid any bias.
If you want to learn more about the Pocket Tango, check out this video here.
Fixed Blades: The Best of 2024
Fixed blade knives are extremely popular, especially for those needing a reliable tool. Here are some of the best fixed blades released this year, balancing value, design, and performance.
Budget-Friendly EDC Fixed Blades
These knives prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a quality fixed blade. They offer excellent performance and durability at an affordable price.
Boker Barlow BFF Packlite
The Boker Barlow BFF Packlite offers great value for a MagnaCut steel fixed blade. The skeletonized version starts around $93, while a Richlite version is about $120, and the walnut wood version is around $130. It features a 2.62-inch drop point blade and suits campers, hikers, and everyday carry enthusiasts. Made in Solingen, Germany, this knife offers a slim and useful design. You can find it here.
- Steel: MagnaCut
- Blade Length: 2.62 inches
- Handle Options: Skeletonized, Richlite, Walnut
- Origin: Germany
- Designer: Lucas Burnley
Kizer Muskrat
The Kizer Muskrat is a small pocket fixed blade with excellent value. With a starting price just under $50, it comes with G10 or Micarta handle options, with wood options coming soon. It features a well-designed Kydex sheath with a clip. Its ergonomics and powerful angled blade make it a standout choice. Check it out here.
- Price: Starts under $50
- Handle Material: G10, Micarta, Wood
- Sheath: Kydex with Clip
- Design: Ergonomic
Premium Pocket Fixed Blades
These fixed blades combine high-quality materials with innovative designs, making them stand out in the premium market.
StraightLine EDC Ally and Erny
The StraightLine EDC Ally and Erny are quickly gaining recognition. Starting around $150, these knives feature M390 steel and 2.75-inch blades. They are available in various handle colors and feature a tapered tang for improved balance. What sets them apart is the ambidextrous magnetic flap pocket sheath, with a second magnet for deeper carry. You can find them here.
- Steel: M390
- Blade Length: 2.75 inches
- Price: Starts around $150
- Special Feature: Tapered Tang
- Designer: Igor Bortolussi
Outdoor/Bushcraft Fixed Blades
These knives are designed for rugged use, perfect for carving, bushcraft, camping and other outdoor activities.
Condor Kambo Puukko
The Condor Kambo Puukko is a great carving or small bushcraft knife, priced around $76. It features a 3-inch narrow tapering blade with a Scandi grind and a full Micarta handle. Made with 1075 carbon steel, it’s easy to sharpen in the field. It’s a great option to step up from less expensive Mora knives. See the Condor Kambo Puukko here.
- Price: Around $76
- Blade Length: 3 inches
- Steel: 1075 Carbon Steel
- Handle: Micarta
- Designer: Joe Flowers
Kershaw Steppe
The Kershaw Steppe is an all-around knife suitable for outdoor and everyday carry, priced roughly $45. It has a 3.5-inch blade made of D2 tool steel and an injection-molded handle. The included sheath is versatile, allowing for belt, inside-the-waistband or pocket carry. You can purchase one here.
- Price: ~$45
- Blade Length: 3.55 inches
- Steel: D2 Tool Steel
- Sheath: Injection Molded, Versatile mounting capabilities
Kizer Militaw Fixed Blade
The Kizer Militaw Fixed Blade is a premium fixed blade suitable for outdoor, tactical, or everyday carry. The S35VN version is around $156, while the Nitro-V version is about $68. It has a 3.8-inch drop point blade and a stylish handle with signature Militaw inlays. The adaptable shape works well in various grips. It includes a Kydex sheath with a two-row DOTS attachment and can be found here.
Fixed Blade Winners
Choosing the best fixed blade was tough, so we decided on a tie between the QSP Canary and the CIVIVI Cloud Peak.
QSP Canary Fixed Blade
The QSP Canary Fixed Blade is an affordable and durable outdoor knife, priced around $62. It features tough carbon steel and roomy handles with Micarta or G10 options. It also includes a Kydex sheath with a great belt attachment. You can find it here.
- Price: ~$62
- Steel: Tough Carbon Steel
- Handle Options: Micarta or G10
- Sheath: Kydex with Belt Attachment
CIVIVI Cloud Peak
The CIVIVI Cloud Peak is an awesome knife with a custom-level feel, priced at $119. It features a 4.6-inch Nitro-V blade and a contoured G10 handle with a nickel bolster. Its design has Bob Loveless style vibes, and it comes with a leather sheath. This is our overall winner in fixed blades. Check it out here.
- Price: ~$119
- Blade Length: 4.6 inches
- Steel: Nitro-V
- Handle: Contoured G10 with Nickel Bolster
Budget Folding Knives: Bang for Your Buck
Budget folding knives offer incredible value, providing reliable performance without breaking the bank. Here are some of the best budget-friendly options we saw this year.
Standout Value
These knives offer a level of quality and design that far exceeds their price point.
CJRB Pyrite-Light
The CJRB Pyrite-Light is a reworked version of the original Pyrite, priced at $30. It features an injection-molded handle, a Wharncliffe blade, and spray-formed RPM9 steel. Its button lock action adds to its appeal. View the knife here.
- Price: ~$30
- Blade: Wharncliffe
- Steel: AR-RPM9
- Handle: Injection-Molded
Petrified Fish Hourglass
The Petrified Fish Hourglass feels like it should cost much more, starting at $59. It features titanium bolsters, wood inlays, and K110 steel. Its 3.5-inch blade and striking design make it a standout. Find the Petrified Fish Hourglass here.
- Price: Starts at ~$59
- Features: Titanium Bolsters
- Steel: K110
- Blade Length: 3.5 inches
CIVIVI Dominates in Budget Folders
CIVIVI has consistently delivered excellent budget folders, offering a range of compelling options under the $100 mark.
CIVIVI Hyperpulse
The CIVIVI Hyperpulse, priced at $69, offers a really clean and useful design. It features 14C28N (Damascus also available) steel and a 3.5-inch blade. The aluminum handle makes it strong and the button lock mechanism is strong and fun to use. You can see it here.
- Price: $69
- Steel: 14C28N
- Blade Length: 3.5 inches
- Lock: Button Lock
CIVIVI Hid
The CIVIVI Hid, designed by Ostap Hel, is a folding food prep knife priced around $85. It features an over 4-inch Santoku-style blade made of 14C28N steel. Its G10 handle rises above the edge for cutting board use, and is useful for both cooking and EDC. Check it out here.
The Big Knife Bargain
This knife offers exceptional value for its size and performance.
Kansept Hellx
The Kansept Hellx is a phenomenal big knife for those on a budget, priced at $49. It features a broad 3.6-inch blade made of D2 steel, with a broad design. It includes G10 or Micarta onlays and a button lock. Find it for sale here.
- Price: $49
- Blade Length: 3.6 inches
- Steel: D2
- Features: Button Lock
- Designer: Mikkel Willumsen
High-Quality Slipjoint
This slipjoint, and frankly, every slipjoint that RoseCraft produces, offers exceptional quality and design at an affordable price.
RoseCraft Mosquito Lake
The Mosquito Lake is a high-quality slip joint, priced at $64, based on the traditional Moose pattern. It features bone handles and D2 steel. Its beautiful design and excellent walk and talk make it a standout. Check it out here.
- Price: ~$64
- Handles: Bone
- Steel: D2
- Design: Beautiful
Budget Folder Winner: Real Steel
Real Steel earns the win for their innovative folded steel frame folders. This type of construction is both highly economical, and extremely durable, a formidable combination. These three knives together win the top spot in the budget realm for 2024.
Real Steel Sylph
The Real Steel Sylph is a folded steel frame folder designed by Poltergeist Works, priced at $52. It features a 3.15-inch blade made of Nitro-V steel, and a visually striking folded steel accent that wraps around the folded steel frame. You can find it here.
- Price: $52
- Blade Length: 3.15 inches
- Steel: Nitro-V
- Features: Folded Steel Frame
- Designer: Poltergeist Works
Real Steel Perix
The Real Steel Perix, designed by Ostap Hel, features a crossbar lock and starts at $60. It includes a Nitro-V blade and a folded steel frame, and it offers a lot of blade in a narrow handle, making it very easy to carry every day. G10 handles and higher end titanium are available. It can be purchased here.
- Price: Starts at $60
- Steel: Nitro-V
- Features: Crossbar Lock
- Design: Ostap Hel
Real Steel IRIS
The Real Steel IRIS is a basic and reliable pocket knife, priced at $32. It features a sub-3-inch blade made of Sandvik 12C27 steel. Its folded steel construction, liner lock, and ball bearings in the pivot make it a dependable choice and an easy recommendation for anyone who just needs a good affordable pocket knife. See the Real Steel IRIS here.
- Price: $32
- Blade Length: 2.95 inches
- Steel: Sandvik 12C27
- Features: Available as a Flipper or a Front Flipper
- Designer: Ostap Hel
Mid-Tier EDC Folders: The Sweet Spot
Mid-tier EDC folders strike a balance between price and performance, offering high-quality materials and designs without an ultra-premium price tag.
Vosteed: The Brand to Watch
Vosteed is quickly becoming a brand to watch, offering impressive designs and quality in the mid-tier range.
Vosteed Shilin Cutter
The Vosteed Shilin Cutter features a Vosteed-exclusive Vanchor Lock and is priced at $99 to start. It has a 3-inch 154CM blade and offers multiple deployment options – flipper tab, thumb stud, and front flipper. It can be found here.
- Price: Starting at $99
- Blade Length: 2.9 inches
- Steel: 154CM
- Lock: Vanchor Lock
Vosteed Marten
The Vosteed Marten is priced at $99 and has a truly premium feel with an attainable price tag. This EDC-friendly design features a 3-inch 154CM blade with a button-actuated Compression-style lock. It is available for purchase here.
- Price: $99
- Blade Length: 3 inches
- Steel: 154CM
- Lock: Button-Actuated Compression-Style
Reate PL-XT
The Reate PL-XT is the least expensive Reate folding knife to date, priced around $112 to start. It features a 3-inch Nitro-V blade, G10 handles, and a button-style lock with a secondary safety. Despite the small dimensions, its thicker handle makes it easy to grip and enables heavier cuts. Find it here.
- Price: Starts ~$112
- Blade Length: 3.03 inches
- Steel: Nitro-V
- Handle: G10
Viper Safe
The Viper Safe offers great value for its size, starting around $165. It features a 3.75-inch tanto blade with M390 steel, but the real trick up its sleeve is the Smart Automatic Safe Lock System (A.S.L.S.). This combines the reliability of a liner lock with an additional safety for added peace of mind and locking performance. See the Viper Safe here.
- Price: Starts Around $165
- Blade Length: 3.75 inches
- Steel: M390
- Lock: Smart Automatic Safe Lock System (A.S.L.S.)
Chaves Blue Label Series
The Chaves Blue Label Series offers a lower price point than previous Chavez factory-made editions, and thanks to their slimmer dimensions, they slice even better while still maintaining the strength that Chaves Knives are known for.
Chaves Redencion 229
The Blue Label Chaves Redencion 229 is priced at $180 and features a 3.5-inch Elmax blade with tanto and drop point profiles to choose from. It includes a liner lock with Micarta scales and both skull-style and plain pocket clips. Check them out here.
- Price: $180
- Blade Length: 3.5 inches
- Steel: Elmax
- Lock: Liner Lock
Mid-Tier Winner: Kershaw Bel Air
The Kershaw Bel Air is the most compelling mid-tier knife of the year. They just hit everything right, from the price, the great design, top-end materials (including MagnaCut steel) and great fit and finish.
Kershaw Bel Air
The Kershaw Bel Air is priced at $150 for the aluminum version and $195 for the carbon fiber version. It features a US-made MagnaCut blade, just over 3 inches in length, slim aluminum handles, a deep carry pocket clip, and a crossbar lock. You can buy one here.
- Price: $150 (Aluminum), $195 (Carbon Fiber)
- Blade Length: Just Over 3 inches
- Steel: MagnaCut
- Lock: Crossbar Lock
Premium Knives: Innovation and Craftsmanship
Premium knives showcase the highest levels of innovation, craftsmanship, and materials.
WE Knife Company: A Standard of Excellence
WE Knife Company consistently delivers phenomenal premium folders.
WE Ezinta
The WE Ezinta is a phenomenal premium folder with integral construction, priced at $412. It features a 4-inch M390 blade. The integral construction makes it very strong, and the sleek shape is a joy to marvel at in your hand. You can purchase one here.
- Price: $412
- Blade Length: 4 inches
- Steel: M390
- Construction: Integral
WE Tyro
The WE Tyro stands out with its dorsal-style Super Lock, starting at $230 (20CV) or up to $570 (Damasteel). This spine mounted lock is ambidextrous and features finger-safe closing action. The design features a roughly 3-inch blade and a four-position pocket clip. Between the adaptable lock, the tidy size, and the options for clip positions, this is an easy knife to recommend across the board. View the WE Tyro here.
- Price: Starts at $230
- Blade Length: 2.91 inches
- Lock: Snecx Super Lock
- Pocket Clip: Four-Position
LionSteel N.ONE
The LionSteel N.ONE is a groundbreaking knife doing something different with screwless construction, showcasing their commitment to pushing the boundaries of pocket knife construction. It features a 2.56-inch MagnaCut blade. Check out the LionSteel N.ONE here.
- Price: $557
- Blade Length: 2.56 inches
- Steel: MagnaCut
- Construction: Screwless Frame
Zero Tolerance 0556 Auto
The Zero Tolerance 0556 Auto is ZT’s first auto and a technical achievement due to how astonishingly thin the handle is. All the mechanicals fit into a super slim titanium frame with carbon fiber inlays. It features a 3.35-inch MagnaCut blade and superb action based on the Launch Series of automatics from ZT’s parent-brand, Kershaw. Find it here.
- Construction: Ultra-Slim Automatic
- Blade Length: 3.35 inches
- Steel: MagnaCut
- Handle: Titanium with Carbon Fiber
Reate T6000
The Reate T6000 is a chunky and secure design, priced at $497. Its widebody frame features two secondary safety switches to bolster the already massively secure frame lock design. With an equally hefty M390 blade, this knife takes no prisoners. Purchase one here.
- Price: $497
- Blade Length: Just Over 3 inches
- Steel: M390
- Lock: Frame Lock with Backup Safety Buttons
Fox Metamorphosis
The Fox Metamorphosis features their hybrid Radius locking system and adds a flipper tab for the first time. Starting around $293, they feature M390 steel with a modified Wharncliffe or Sheepsfoot shapes and a range of handle materials. You can check it out here.
- Price: $293
- Steel: M390
- Blade: Modified Wharncliffe or Sheepsfoot
- Lock: Radius Lock
Premium Folder Winner: Karbon
The legendary Ken Onion‘s new Karbon Knives brand takes the win for the premium folder segment thanks to these two releases.
Karbon Buckhorn
The Karbon Buckhorn offers an impressively milled handle, available in aluminum or titanium, with fine details that become more and more appreciated with time. This design won Knife Collaboration of the Year at BLADE Show 2024, and it is easy to see why. See the Karbon Buckhorn here.
Karbon Smokeshow
The Karbon Smokeshow is aptly named. The striking shape of the knife feels like it is in motion even when standing still and we still can not stop dreaming about it. It features a 3.3-inch M390 blade, elaborate yet tasteful inlays, and is priced at $355. You can purchase the Karbon Smokeshow here.
- Price: $355
- Blade Length: 3.3 inches
- Steel: M390
- Shape: Striking
Overall Knife of the Year: Kershaw Bel Air
After considering all the categories, the overall winner for the best knife of the year is undoubtedly the Kershaw Bel Air.
The Kershaw Bel Air combines price, quality, materials, and design. It hits a sweet spot for affordability and delivers exceptional performance. Our buyers agree. The Bel Air was easily the best-selling new knife model released in 2024, and by a wide margin. Check out the other best sellers here: Top 10 Bestselling New Knives of 2024.
Closing Thoughts
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more cool knives in 2025!
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