10 Best Carbon Fiber Knives

Article was originally published in March 2017 and updated March 2021.

There are a few characteristics nearly everyone looks for in an everyday carry: strength, durability, and a light weight. Few other handle materials boast those qualities like carbon fiber.

Over the years, carbon fiber has grown in popularity due to its versatility. It is a synthetic material that will not break under pressure or crack through use. According to Knife Art, it is stiffer than steel and five times stronger.

But the best part may be its weight. CF helps cut down the overall heft of a knife, giving your EDC a light feel. Oh, and it looks great!

Of course, there are different levels and qualities of carbon fiber. More companies have been doing a laminated version of carbon fiber with G-10 to cut down on prices while giving it the look and feel of carbon fiber. While laminated carbon fiber and G-10 is not pure carbon fiber, we’re including a few here too.

Enough gushing over carbon fiber. Let’s take a look at 10 of the best carbon fiber EDC knives.

1. Kershaw Leek, Carbon Fiber

The Kershaw Leek is one of the best and most iconic EDC knives, so when it came out in carbon fiber a few years ago, it made something great even greater. It has the same CPM 154 stainless steel 3-inch blade with assisted opening but the handles are carbon fiber. The weight is a cool 2.4 ounces.

2. Boker Plus Anti-Grav

The Boker Plus Anti-Grav goes all in on lightweight materials, including carbon fiber handle scales and a 3.25-inch ceramic blade. The all black blade and CF handle makes the whole knife look sexy.

While some still scoff at ceramic blades, the blades have made strides in durability. It’s not something you’d want to take into the jungle, but it’ll hold up to everyday tasks.

3. Spyderco Ikuchi

The Ikuchi is a downright excellent EDC knife, with its steak-knife-like design and “hidden” flipper. The handle is carbon fiber and G-10 laminate that Spyderco describes as stunning. While full carbon fiber would have been interesting, the laminate version looks great and keeps the price down.

4. Benchmade 940-1

Anyone who follows this blog knows that I absolutely love the Benchmade 940-1. This souped-up version of the 940 boasts premium materials like S90V steel and carbon fiber handles. The weight on this hard-use knife is a mere 2.9 ounces.

Along with a few flourishes like blue anodized titanium back spacers and Benchmade’s patented AXIS lock, this knife is a no-brainer for anyone willing to shell out a little dough for the perfect EDC.

5. Spyderco Sage 5

Our second Spyderco on the list is the Sage 5. The Sage is often hailed as a perfect EDC. This 2016 iteration of the knife has a reasonable blade length of 3.03 inches with quality S30V stainless steel. The leaf-shaped blade is pocked with the iconic Round Hole.

But the magic comes in the carbon fiber/G-10 laminate handle scales. There’s something about the texture of carbon fiber that meshes seamlessly with the design. As a bonus, the knife uses the Compression Lock and a wire pocket clip.

6. SOG Ultra XR

The SOG Ultra XR is one of the newest knives on this list. It features a thin 2.75-inch blade made from S35VN stainless steel with an also thin carbon fiber handle.

This little folder fits nicely in the pocket and works perfectly as an EDC.

7. Boker Plus Urban Trapper

The Boker Plus Urban Trapper is a popular model thanks to its slim profile, functional design, and durable construction. The carbon fiber just adds another thing to love about the knife. The 3.5-inch blade is made from VG-10 stainless steel and the carbon fiber scales cover the titanium liner.

This is the kind of knife you won’t be afraid to take to a black-tie event, and at less than 2 ounces, you’ll barely notice it’s there until someone needs it.

8. Cold Steel Lucky

Next up is the Cold Steel Lucky. Billed as a modern reinvention of the classic pen knife, the Lynn C . Thompson and Andrew Demko design is an upscale pocket knife that comes in at just over an ounce. The steel is quality S35VN and the carbon fiber handles add yet another element of class and style. The old Lucky One with a single blade was discontinued, but the Lucky with a fully serrated blade and a plain blade is just as good.

While I’m not fond of the Lucky engraving on the blade, it is a fine little folder.

9. Boker Plus F3 II

Jesper Voxnæs is one of the best knifemakers around these days, so it was great to add his Boker Plus F3 II in carbon fiber. The knife has a 3-inch S35VN blade with carbon fiber handle scales and blue anodized titanium clip and “Nessire” spacer.

10. CRKT Avant

The Avant is an interesting knife in that it’s a robust folder designed by Eric Ochs that looks sleek but can handle heavy duty tasks. The 3.18-inch blade opens via flipper or thumb disk. The handle is one layer of black weaved carbon fiber with the rest G-10.