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A collection of the best knives on the planet.
When you need a nondescript knife that you can comfortably carry to the office or keep on your desk, the Boker Plus USB OTF is the perfect choice.
The design of the knife is unsurprisingly modeled after USB sticks, meaning it’s practical, slim, and compact.
Since this is a California legal automatic, its blade is a mere 1.77 inches. While you might think the D2 blade is too small, it’s more than capable of tackling everyday tasks around the office or in day-to-day life.
The OTF (out-the-front) automatic knife is typically seen as a novelty folder meant for daintily opening letters or displaying in a collections case.
Our latest Knife of the Week would like to challenge that unfair characterization.
The Benchmade Shootout offers accuracy, adaptability, calmness under pressure, quick reflexes, and tactical awareness. And it’s anything but dainty.
The Shootout takes after the iconic Benchmade Infidel that’s meant for tactical or everyday uses.
KA-BAR and John Benner of TDI have teamed up to create an array of compelling fixed blade self-defense knives, but when they tried a flipper folder, it just didn’t click.
After a complete revamp of the original design, the new and improved TDI Flipper nails the functionality and aesthetics.
The new KA-BAR TDI Flipper forgoes the straight blade and handle of the original and opts for something curved to better match the defensive advantages of the fixed blades.
Its blade is 3 inches long with a spear point blade profile that reinforces the tip. The knife opens with an easily accessible flipper tab or an oversized thumb hole. Either option gives the user access to the blade in a pinch, even when wearing heavy duty gloves.
When it comes to hard-use work autos, there are only a few worthy of consideration like the Gerber 06 Auto and Benchmade Auto Adamas.
Those older models finally get a modern competitor at a much lower price in the Kershaw Launch 16.
The Launch16 is a hard-use automatic knife with a 3.45-inch tanto blade with partial serrations. The blade uses M4 steel, which is one of the toughest alloys around. In fact, this knife is so good we named it one of the best automatic knives.
The original Spyderco Military was introduced in 1996 and quickly became one of the most iconic knives of all time. The knife came about after someone asked founder Sal Glesser what folding knife their son should take into the military.
For nearly three decades, the Military excelled as a lightweight yet hard-use folder you could bet your life on.
However, Spyderco is never a brand to rest on its laurels and finally updated the classic knife into something even better.
Take a look at the Spyderco Military 2.
The second iteration has the same general design with a few much-appreciated quality of life improvements.
Knives often struggle finding a balance between offering something unique or eye-catching and something highly functional. The Cold Steel Ti-Lite Kris manages to perfectly blend the two extremes together.
Way back in 2019, the original Ti-Lite was a Knife of the Week because of its large size and slim design. However, the Kris version takes things to a whole other level.
This Ti-Lite has the same dimensions, including a 6-inch blade, Zytel handle, and impressive reach. What really sets it apart is the blade.
The blade takes inspiration from the asymmetrical Javanese dagger with a wavy edge. The daggers were mostly ceremonial, but they also excelled at self-defense.
When it comes to best everyday carry knives of all time, only a few knives can stake the claim, including the Spyderco Paramilitary 2, CIVIVI Elementum, and the Kershaw Leek.
The latest Knife of the Week has quickly gained a spot on that coveted list.
The Benchmade Bugout is a lightweight folder with a simple yet effective design that disappears in your pocket until you need it.
Some people say fixed blades don’t make good everyday carry knives. Those people have clearly never seen the CRKT Razel.
The Razel boasts the late great Jon Graham’s innovative blade shape that blends together elements from the chisel and the straight razor to create something strong and utilitarian.
The Razel has a 2.97-inch blade that can cut, scrape, pry, and more. With its D2 steel, you know it’ll be tough as nails. The Razel blade shape has long been one of our most unique blade shapes.
Along with the unique blade shape, the knife has Micarta handle scales that feel great in the hand.
Some people think folding cleavers are simply gimmicks, nothing more than a cash grab by Big Knife. Those people have clearly never had one for an EDC.
The Gerber FlatIron is a perfect example.
The original FlatIron was a Knife of the Week back in 2020 because of its versatile design. But this upgraded version is worthy of a second look.
First, let’s extol the virtues of the cleaver design. The cleaver has a strong point that won’t break even in hard use. It’s also versatile for slicing, chopping, and finer tasks. On top of everything, its blade shape is much less aggressive than others with similar attributes (looking at you tanto!).
The OTF is a fan-favorite design because it’s so unique with a rich history. Unfortunately, most out-the-front designs are exclusively automatics, which means they’re illegal in many places.
However, there’s an increasing amount of manual OTF knives that skirt the definition of an automatic knife.
One of the best manual OTF knives is the Boker Plus Slike.
This manual OTF is as light as a feather at just 1.27 ounces. Despite its light weight, it features a 2.99-inch dagger blade made from D2 steel.
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