How To Choose The Right Knife: An Ultimate Guide

Why Do You Need a Knife?

To find the right knife, first identify the tasks you intend to use it for. Knives can serve various purposes—slicing, chopping, or carving, for example—and knives that excel at some tasks can struggle with others, so it’s important to choose the right tool for the job. Once you know what you want your knife to do well, you’re well on your way to finding the right knife for you.

Step 1: Fixed or Folding?

The first question you’ll need to answer is whether you need a fixed blade or a folder. So, what’s the difference?

Fixed Blade Knife:

A fixed blade is a type of knife where the blade is integral with or attached to the handle and does not fold or retract. They are preferred for their robustness and simplicity compared to folding knives, making them suitable for heavy-duty tasks and unpredictable situations. Also, they tend to be more comfortable than folding knives because the handles can be shaped to fit in your hand, not in your pocket. Fixed blades require a sheath to hold and protect the blade while not in use.

Folding Knife:

A folding knife, also known as a pocket knife, is a type of knife with a blade that folds or retracts into the handle. The folding mechanism allows the blade to be easily concealed and carried in a pocket or bag without the need for a sheath, hence the name “pocket knife.” Folding knives typically have a pivot point where the blade folds and unfolds, along with mechanisms such as locks or springs to secure the blade in both the open and closed positions. While they may not be a strong or as comfortable as a fixed blade, you can’t beat the form factor for convenience!

Step 2: Find Your Type

• Pocket knife: Do you need something easy to carry for everyday tasks like opening boxes or cutting food?
• Outdoor/Survival: Do you need something tough that you can rely on when you’re adventuring away from home?
• Bushcraft: Are you interested in carving and crafting with wood?
• Hunting/Fishing: Will you be field dressing game or cleaning/filleting fish?
• Tactical: Are you interested in a knife for self defense?
• Custom: Are you passionate about craftsmanship and want something exceptional?

Step 3: Geometry Cuts

• Learn About Blade Grinds: Grinds such as hollow grind, flat grind, and convex impact cutting performance and blade strength. The thinner the edge, the better at slicing it will be; the thicker the edge, the stronger it will be. Consult our Ultimate Guide to Blade Grinds to learn more!
• Explore Different Blade Shapes: Different blade shapes like drop point, clip point, and tanto serve different purposes. For example, drop point blades are versatile for general tasks, clip point blades have a finer tip for easier piercing, and tanto blades tend to be thicker at the tip for brute strength. For a thorough explanation of these and all the other blade shapes, check out our Blade Shapes: Explained page.

Step 4: Material Choices

• Compare Blade Steels: Understanding the properties of different blade steels will allow you to make a smart decision for your budget, because every blade steel offers a unique balance between durability, edge retention, corrosion resistance, and price. To help you choose a blade material that aligns with the intended use of the knife, we’ve put together a guide to the best blade steels.

Step 5: Hand, Meet Handle

• Pick Out Your Handle Materials: Familiarize yourself with common handle materials like wood, G-10, and Micarta. Each material offers unique characteristics, but most of it comes down to personal taste. Feel free to try something new to find what works for you. Our guide to knife handle materials is the perfect reference to help get you pointed in the right direction.

Step 6: Maintain and Be Happy

• Review Our Sharpening Guide: Once you know how to sharpen, you’ll be able to keep all your edged tools in top form. There’s really no one best way to sharpen—whether you go freehand or use one of the many excellent guided sharpening systems out there, you can achieve incredible edges when you know how to apex properly. Our sharpening guide will help you achieve those hair-whittling edges!
• Learn Knife Care Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with proper knife care and maintenance practices to ensure longevity and optimal performance. This includes cleaning, lubricating pivot points (for folding knives), and storing the knife appropriately.

Step 7: Enjoy!

Now that you’ve found the right knife, there’s nothing to do but wait for it to arrive from knifecenter.com so you can put it to good use!